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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1917 Session I, I-06

i.-e,

1917. NEW ZEALA ND.

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, the 20th Day of July, 1917. Ordered, " That a Select 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. Buick, Mr. Bollard, Mr. J. S. Dickson, Mr. W. H. Field, the Hon Mr. Myers, Mr. Sidcy, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Veitch, Mr. Witty, and the mover." —(Hon, Mr. Hkrriks.) Tuesday, the 28th Day oir August, 1917. Ordered., " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1916 be again, referred to the same Committee as they were referred to during the said session."—(Right Hon. Mr. Massf.y.) Wednesday, the 26th Day of September, 1917. Ordered, " That the petition of J. Wilson be referred to the Railways Committee." —(Mr. Poole, for Mr. Dickie.)

INDEX.

No. ■Petitioner. Page. No. Petitioner. Pago. 276 329 395 368 252 438 392 28 294 139 425 93 386 243 367 Adams, J. C, and 529 others .. .. ! 3 Bamett, J., and 15 others .. .. 2 Carter, Emma .. .. .. j 3 Colliek, U., and 11 others .. .. 2 Couzens, T. H., and 12 others . . .. 3, 4 Gibson, D .. .. 3 Griffith, John, and 10 others .. . . 3 Grimmer, A. W., and 24 others .. 3, 4 Henderson, E. W., and 9 others .. 4 Hart, L., and 39 others .. .. 3, 4 Hodge, William .. .. .. 3 Holland, Henry, and 49 others (two reports) ; 3,4 Holmes, C. E. .. .. .. 2, Lange, Thco. .. .. Laws, Thomas, and 7 others .. .. | 2 109 273 372 140 65 355 236/16 240 303 370 203 251 Lester, W. L., and 39 others McLean, W. P., and 9 others Murray, T., and 8 others Payne, E. A., and 2 others Russell, John S. Sclwyn Plantation Board Tc Whitu, Rongonui, and 2 others Thomason, H. R. Verdon, B., and 12 others Wilson, John Winsor, W. H., and 10 others .. Young, Herbert Special report {re Clerk of Committee) ',. Special report {re Chairman of Committee) Pinal report 3, 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3, 4 3 4 4 4

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BEPORTS. No. 140. —Petition of Edwin Arthur Payne and 2 Others, of Amberley. Praying for compensation for loss of crops, &c, destroyed by fire alleged to have been caused by sparks from a railway locomotive. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 23rd August, 1917.

No. 65.—Petition of John S. Russell and 120 Others, of Aramoho. Praying that the railway-crossing at Spier Street, Aramoho, may be opened as a public crossing. J. ant directed to report that the Committee is of the opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. • 29th August, 1017.

No. 355.—Petition of Selwyn Plantation Boaud. Praying for compensation for losses sustained by fires in plantations, alleged to be caused by sparks from a railway locomotive. I am. directed to report that the Committee is of the opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 26th September, 1917.

No. 236 (1916). —Petition of Ronconui te Whitu and 2 Others, of Raetihi. Praying for compensation for the death of their mother, who was accidentally killed in a railwayconstruction accident at Raetihi. I am directed to report that the Committee, is of the opinion this petition should be referred to the Public Works Department for immediate and favourable consideration. 26th September, 1917.

No. 240.—Petition of H. R. Thomason, of Wai-iti. Praying for light employment in consideration of the fact that he had lost both his legs while in the employment of the Railway Department. 1 am directed to report that the Committee is of the opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 26th September, 1917.

No. 273.—Petition of W. F. McLean and 9 Others (and 6 similar Petitions as per Schedule attached). Praying that superannuated railway men be placed on the same footing as present members of the Railway Department in regard to payment of war bonus, also the issue of free passes and privilege tickets. I am directed to report that in the opinion of this Committee this is a question of policy, and therefore it has no recommendation to make. 26th September, 1917.

SCHEDULE. No. 303.—Verdon, 8., and 12 others. No. 368.—Collick, 1.J., and 11 others. No.' 329.—Bamett, J., and 15 others. No. 372.—Murray, T„ and 8 others. No. 307. —Laws, Thomas, and 7 others. No. 386. —Holmes, C. E.

No. 243.—Petition of Theo. Lange, of Tc Kuiti. Praying for compensation for injuries caused to his daughter through a railway accident at Te Kuiti. I am directed to report that the Committee is of the opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 26th September, 1917.

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No. 93.—Petition of Henry Holland and 49 Others, of Christchurch (and 5 similar Petitions as per Schedule attached). Praying for the reinstatement of the 9.45 p.m. train from Lyttelton to Christchurch. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this is a policy question, and therefore has no recommendation to make. 26th September, 1917. SCHEDULE. No. 252. —Couzens, T. H., and 12 others. j No. 109. —Lester, W. L., and 39 others. No. 28.—Grimmer, A. W., and 24 others. No. 203.—Winsor, W. H., and 10 others. No. 139. —Hart, L., and 39 others.

No. 276.—Petition of J. C. Adams and 529 Others, of Tauranga. Praying for the construction of a bridge across Tauranga Harbour. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 26th September, 1917.

No. 395.—Petition of Emma Cauter, of Oamarta, Praying for compassionate allowance on account of her late husband's services in the Railway Department. I am directed to report that in connection with this petition the Committee has no recommendation to make. 4th October, 1917.

No. 438. —Petition of I). Gibson and 8 Others. Praying that superannuated railway men be placed on the same footing as present members of the Railway Department in regard to payment of war bonus, also the issue of free passes and privilege tickets. I am directed to report that in the opinion -of this Committee this is a question of policy, and therefore it has no recommendation to make. 4th October, 1917.

No. 392.—Petition of John Griffith and 10 Others. Praying that superannuated railway men be placed on the same footing as present members of the Railway Department in regard to payment of war bonus, also the issue of free passes and privilege tickets. I am directed to report that in the opinion of this Committee this is a question of policy, and therefore it has no recommendation to make. 4th October, 1917.

* No. 425. —Petition of William Hodge, of Christchurch. Praying that money alleged to be due to him by the Railway Department be paid, and that action be taken to compel the Railway Employees' Sick Benefit Society to pay £29 12s. 6d. alleged to be due to him. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on this petition. 4th October, 1917.

No. 251.—Petition of Herbert Young, of Auckland. Praying for compensation for losses caused by alleged illegal arrest. I am directed to report that, as the Railway Department has nothing against the character of the petitioner, the Committee has no recommendation to make on this petition. 1 lth October, 1917.

No. 370. —Petition of John Wilson, of Auckland. Praying for additional compensation for limestone lands near To Kuiti, leased by petitioner, taken compulsorily by the Public Works Department. I am directed to report that the Committee is of the opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th October, 1917.

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No. 294.—Petition of E. W. Henderson and 5 Others, of Christchurch. Praying that the New Zealand Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association may be permitted to register as an industrial union under the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. I am directed to report that the Committee is of the opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th October, 1917.

No. 93.—-Petition of Henry Holland and 49 Others, of Christchurch (and 5 similar Petitions. as per Schedule attached). (Second Report.) Praying for the reinstatement of the 9.45 p.m. train from Lyttelton to Christchurch. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion these petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th October, 1917. SCHEDULE. No. 252.—Couzens, T. H„ and 12 others. No. 109.—Lester, W. L„ and 39 others. No. 28.—Grimmer, A. W., and 24 others. No. 203.—Winsor, W. H., and 10 others. No. 139.—Hart, L., and 39 others.

Special Report. I am directed to report that the following resolution was unanimously carried : "The Committee wishes to record its satisfaction at the manner in which the Clerk (Mr. G. W. C. Moon) has carried out his duties, and at the tact and energy he has exercised in dealing with the business referred to the Committee, and recommends that he be appointed to a position so that his services may be available in future. This recommendation to be recorded on the minutes of the Committee and reported to the House." 27th October, 1917.

Special Report. I am directed to report that the following resolution was unanimously adopted : " The Committee desires to place on record its keen appreciation of the efficient and courteous manner in which the Chairman (D. Buick, Esq.) has directed the business of the Committee during this session of Parliament, and that this resolution shall be recorded on the minutes of the Committee and be reported to the House." 27th October, 1917.

Final Report. I am directed to report that the Railways Committee (consisting of ten members) has held fifteen meetings during the session, the average attendance at each meeting being just under seven. The following table shows the disposal of the business that came before the Committee : — Petitions referred to the Committee ... ... ... ... ... 28 Petitions dealt with .... ... ... ... ... ... 28 Reports presented to the House ... ... ... ... ... 29 Petitions referred for favourable consideration ... ... ... 4 Petitions referred for consideration ... ... ... 6 Petitions given "no recommendation" ... ... ... ... 18 Petitions referred back to the Committee and again reported on for consideration ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 27th October, 1917.

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