RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. BUICK, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1916 Session I, I-06

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1916. NEW ZEAL AN I).

RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. BUICK, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from, the, Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, THI 19th Day of May, 1916. Ordered, " That a Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to examine and report upon questions relating to railways; with power to call for persons and papers; three to be a quorum : tho Committee to consist of Mr. Bollard, Mr. Buick, Mr. J. S. Dickson, Mr. W. H. Field, Hon. Mr. Myers, Mr. Sidey, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Veitch, Mr. Witty, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. Herries.) Ordered, " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the session 1915 be again referred to the same Committees as they were, referred to during the said session." -(Right Hon. Mr. Massey.) TUESDAY, this 20th Day of June, 1916. Ordered, " That Paper No. 112 (Petition 626/1914 —Gavin Weir) be referred to the Railways Committee." —(Hon. Mr. Hurries.) Wuonesday, the sth Day op July, 1916. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 219 be suspended, and that the names of Mr. Mander and Mr. Smith be added to the Railways Committee." (Hon. Mr. Hurries.)

INDEX.

No. Petitioner. Page. No. Petitioner. Page. 163 [ Alexander, H. V., and 5 others 178 i Atkinson, W., and 43 others 52/15 Cain, Joseph F. 172 Cameron, W., and 30 others 165 Couchman, V. W., and 45 others 185 Croucher, F. G., and 3 others . . 174 Cuttle, W. J., and 52 others Final report 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 4 189 186 162 181 167 14 191 McEvoy, W. L., and 44 others . . McGill, Daniel, and 17 others . . MacLean, T. L., and 25 others . . Melrose, W. J., and 21 others .. Mitchell, R. J., and 55 others .. Moderate, James Moffat, James, and 9 others 3 3 3 3 '.'. 2 3 176 7 Newlands, John, and 44 others Nieolson, Magnus ,. 3 2 171 Gay, A. V., and 27 others 3 164 O'Brien, J., and 41 others Ronnie, E. L., and 20 others Robinson, Harry Ross, Georgo S. Rowles, Denis, and 164 others . . 3 3 3 ::, S 166 Harris, D. S. D., and 49 others 24 | Hodge, William 3 2 182 99 196 183 170 Ingram, S., and 49 others 187 I Kennedy, E. B., and 8 others . . 175 Kilgour, J. N., and 13 others . . 177 King, M. F., and 123 others . . 180 Kirk, H. R., and 21 others 3 3 3 3 3 168 169 Special report (re Chairman) Special report (re Clerk) Stout, T. W., and 50 others Sullivan, W., and 51 others 3 3 3 3 57 Langford, F. J., and 538 others 16 Lee, George 173 Leek, A. W., and 24 others 188 Love, B., and 32 others 2 2 3 3 100 250 Thoinason, H. R. Thompson, Mary 2 3 184 190 179 Weir, Gavin (Paper No. 112) .. Williams, Arthur, and 49 others Williams, A. W. J., and 7 others Wilson, Frank, and 43 others .. 3 3 3 3 11/15 McCracken, Mary, and 1,599 others 140 McDougall, J., and 57 others . . 3 2

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BEPORTS.

No. 57.—Petition of Frank James Langford and 538 Others, of Runoiman. Praying for an inquiry into the question of closing the railway-station at Runciman and opening a central one between Runciman and Drury. 1 am directed to report that this Committee lias no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 13th June, 1916.

No. 100.—Petition of H. R. Thomason, of Wai-iti, Nelson. Praying for relief and for compensation for the loss of both legs as the result of a railway accident. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 15th June, 1916.

No. 24.—Petition of William Hodge, of I High Street, Christchurch. Praying: for the payment of wages alleged to be due to him by the Railway Department, and also for the compulsory refund of moneys alleged to be due to him by the Railway Employees' Sick Benefit Society. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 15th June, 1916.

No. 14.—Petition of James Moderate, of Cust. Praying for compensation for the loss of his house, destroyed by a fire alleged to have been caused by sparks from a locomotive. I am directed to report that, owing to the Committee having been informed of the decease of the petitioner, it lias no report to make, and requests leave be granted to withdraw the petition. 28th June, 1916.

No. 7.—Petition of Magnus Nioolson, of Auckland. Praying for additional and more adequate compensation for injuries received while in the employ of the Railway Department. I am directed to report that in I lie opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. The Committee expresses the hope that the Government will find petitioner suitable employment. 28th June, 1916.

No. 52 (1915).— Petition of Joseph F. Cain, of Rotoroa Island. Praying for compensation for stock alleged to have been seized by the Railway Department. I am directed to report that, at the request of the honourable member who presented the petition, the Committee recommends that leave be given to withdraw the petition. 19th July, 1916.

No. 16.—Petition of George Lee, of Templeton. Praying for compensation for the loss of buildings by a fire alleged to have been caused by a spark from a locomotive. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th July, 1916.

No. 140.—Petition of James McDouuall, of Petone, and 57 Others (also 30 other petitions of a similar nature, schedule of which is attached hereto). Praying for official recognition of the New Zealand Railway Tradesmen's Association. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. (Vide also Appendix 1.-6 a.) 2nd August, 1916.

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Schedule. No. 162.—MacLean, T. L., and 25 others. No. 177.—King, M. F., and 123 others. No. 163.—Alexander, H. V., and 5 others. No. 178.—Atkinson, W., and 43 others. No. 164.—O'Brien, J., and 41 others. No. 179. —Wilson, Frank, and 43 others. No. 165. —Couchman, F. W., and 45 others. No. 180.—Kirk, H. R., and 21 others. No. 166.—Harris, D. S. D„ and 49 others. No. 181. -Melrose, W. J., and 21 others. No. I.67.—Mitchell, R. J., and 55 others. No. 182.—Rennie, E. L, and 20 others. No. 168.- Stout, T. W., and 50 others. No. 183,—Rowles, Denis, and 164 others. No. 169. —Sullivan, W., and 51 others. No. 184.—Williams, A., and 49 others. No. 170. —Ingram, S., and 49 others. No. 185. —Croucher, F. (}., and 3 others. No. 171.—Gay, A. V., and 27 others. No. 186, -McGill, Daniel, and 17 others. No. 172. —Cameron, W., and 30 others. No. 187.—Kennedy, E. 8., and 8 others. No. 173.—Leek, A. W., and 24 others. No. 188.—Love, 8., and 32 others. No. 174.— Cuttle, W. J., and 52 others. No. 189.—McEvoy, W. L., and 44 otters. No. 175.—Kilgour, J. N., and 13 others. No. 190.—Williams, A. W. J., and 7 others. No. 176.—Newlands, J., and 44 others. No. 191. —Moffat, J., and 9 others.

Paper No. 112 (Petition 626/1914—Gavin Weir). 1 am directed to report that, the Committee having carefully considered Paper 112 (Petition 626/1914 —Gavin Weir) and having taken lengthy evidence on it, finds that, while there is no reflection on Mr. Weir's personal honesty, the Department was, considering the whole circumstances of the case, justified in taking the action it did, and the Committee therefore recommends that no further action he taken by the Government. 2nd August, 1916. .

No. 196.—Petition of George S. Ross, of Christohuroh. Praying that he be rewarded for introducing an improved tube-plate while he was in the Railway Workshops at Addington. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 2nd August, 1916.

No. .'ill (1915).— Petition of Mary McCraoken and 1,599 Others, of Auckland. Praying that the quarrying of scoria and stone on Mount Albert shall cease. I am directed to report that, as a question of policy is involved, the Committee has no recommendation to make in regard to this petition. 2nd August, 1916.

No. 99. —Petition of Harry Robinson, of Christohuroh. Praying for a compassionate allowance for injuries received at the Bligh's Road railway-crossing. I am directed to report that the Committee lias no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 2nd August, 1916.

No. 250.—Petition, of Mary Thompson, of Christchurch. Praying for a compassionate allowance for the death of her husband, which is alleged to be due to the result of a railway accident. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 2nd August, 1916.

Special Report. I am directed to report that the Committee places on record its high appreciation of the services of the Chairman (Mr. David Buick), and its recognition of the able and impartial manner in which he carried on the business of the Committee. 2nd August, 1916.

Special Report. I am directed to report that a vote of thanks was passed to the Clerk to tire Committee (Mr. W. H. Russell) for the capable manner in which he discharged the duties of that office during the session. 2nd August, 1916.

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Final 'Report. I have the honour to. report that the Railways Committee held its final meeting on the 2nd August, 1916. During the session the Committee met on 23 occasions, the average attendance being 7'l. The Committee had before it for consideration 44 petitions and 1 parliamentary paper, and they were dealt with as follows : — Referred to the Government for consideration ... ... ... ... 3 Referred to the Government for favourable consideration ... ... 1 The Committee had no recommendation to make upon ... ... ... 37 Petitions withdrawn ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Petitions held over till next session ... ... ... ... ... 2 The number of reports brought down by the Committee and presented to the House was 16. 2nd August, 1916.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (750 copies), £2 Ifls.

Authority : Mahcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.- 1916.

Price. Sd.]