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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1920 Session I, I-06

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1920. NEW ZEALAND.

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

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

ORDERS OF REFKRENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 14th Day of July, 1920. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to examine and report on questions relating to railways ; witlr power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : tho Committee to consist of Mr. Bollard, Mr. J. S. Dickson, Mr. Glenn, Mr. Howard, Mr. Nash, Mr. Sidey, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Veitch, Mr. Witty, and the mover." —(Right Hon. Mr. Massey.) Monday, the 20th Day of September, 1920. Ordered, " That tho report of tho Railways Committee on tho petition of Arthur- F. Webster bo referred back for further consideration." —(Mr. Parry.) Saturday, the 30th Day of October, 1920. Ordered, "That the Government Railways Amendment Bill be referred to the Railways Committee."—(Right Hon. Mr. Massey.)

INDEX.

1 64 31 61 3 1 0. 0

4 9841 56 8 1 36 1 31 4

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REPORTS. No. B.—Petition of William Sadler and 3 Others, of Christchurch. Praying for further compassionate allowance for his sister who was injured in the Rakaia railway collision in 1899. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration, 20th September, 1920.

No, 172.—Petition of George McClymont, of Mangamahoe. Prating for compensation for loss of property through fire alleged to have been caused by sparks from railway-engine. 1 am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 20th September, 1920.

No. 115, Petition of J. D. Lynch and 12 Others, of Greymouth; and No. 119, Petition of John Menzies and 10 Others, of Westport. for the renewal of railway concessions to teachers in Catholic schools. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion these petitions should be referred to tire Education Committee. 20th September, 1920.

No. 136.—Petition of Arthur F. Webster, of Auckland. Praying for compensation on account of compulsory retirement from Railway service without superannuation. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 20th September, 1920. Note.—Referred back by House, 20th September, 1920. See report of Ist October, 1920.

No. 10. —Petition of William Hodge, of Christchurch. Praying for an inquiry into circumstances of his employment in the Railway Department, and asking leave to be heard before the bar of the House. I am directed to report that the Committee has rro recommendation to make. 20th September, 1920.

No. I.—Petition of John Hand and 18 Others, of Wellington (and 17 similar Petitions, as per Schedule attached). Praying that allowances received from the superannuation fund be increased owing to the higher cost of living. I am directed to report that as this is a question of policy the Committee has no recommendation to make. 20th September, 1920. Schedule. No. 2.—E.Wilson. No. 28.—A. Atyeo and 4 others. No. 3. —Angus Mitchell and 35 others. No. 29.— E. Longman and 49 others. No. 21. —William Hodge and 12 others. No. 35.—M. Guthrie and 8 others. No. 22.—Tiros. Livingstone and 9 others. No. 48.—, T. Muirhead and 25 others. No. 23. —J. Williams and 14 others. No. 81. —Thos. S. Edwards and 15 others. No. 24.—Henry Owen and 25 others. No. 89. —W. Makirr and 13 others. No. 25.—Charles How and 11 others. No. 96.— W. Solomon and 4 others. No. 26.—D. McKillop and 2 others. No. 108.— T. Breeze and 5 others. No. 27. —Joseph Sherris and 5 others.

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No. 55. —Petition of Mary Mullan, of Wellington. Praying for compassionate allowance for services of late husband in the Railway Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 28th September, 1920.

No. 137. —Petition of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand. Praying for an inquiry into the methods of trading adopted by the Omega Watch Company. I am directed to report that the Committee is of the opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 28th September, 1920.

No. 88. —Petition of Nelson Harbour Board. Praying that payment of the Government subsidy of .£5OO be not discontinued. I am directed to reporl that lire Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to (he Government for consideration. Ist October, 1920.

No. 74. —Petition of the New Zealand Locomotive-engine Drivers', Firemen's, and Cleaners' Association. Praying for legislation to amend section 80, Part 111, of the Railways Act, 1908, re superannuation. I am directed to report that the Committee is of the opinion this petition should be referred In the Government for consideration. 28th September, 1920.

No. 170.—Petition of F. Marshall, of Kawakawa. Praying for compensation for loss of cattle killed on railway-line. 1 am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist October, 1920.

No. 136. —Petition of A. I<\ Webster, of Auckland. (Second Report.) Prayino for compensation on account of compulsory retirement from Railway service without superannuation. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist October, 1920.

No. 213. —Petition of Russell Weekes, of Westport. Praying for relief on account of an alleged accident incurred whilst employed as a crane-driver in the New Zealand Railway service. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Bth October, 1920.

No. 254. —Petition of Mrs. Mary Carson, of Dunedin. Praying for compassionate allowance on account of the death of her late husband, John Carson, Workshops Manager, Hillside. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 22nd October, 1920.

No. 239. —Petition of Mrs. E. J. L. Welsh, of Masterton. Praying for increase of allowance in respect of the death of her husband, Thomas Welsh, an enginedriver, killed in 1919 near Mataroa whilst on duty with his engine. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 22nd October, 1920.

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No. 343.—Petition of ,T. E. Belch*® and 378 Others, of Woolston, &c. Complaining of the smoke nuisance from the railway-works near Christchurch, and praying that steps may be taken to abate the same. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 30th October, 1920.

No. 299.'—Petition of Robert N. Wickham, of Christchurcli. Praying for further inquiry into or compensation for a certain alleged assault. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 3rd November, 1920.

Government Railways Amendment Bill. The Railways Committee, to which was referred the Government Railways Amendment Bill, lias the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with the amendments shown on the copy attached hereto. 3rd November, 1920.

Spboiatj Report. I have the honour to report that the Railways Committee desires to record its high appreciation of the great care, ability, impartiality, and courtesy with which the Chairman, Mr. Bollard, has presided over the business of the Committee during this session; and it further desires that this resolution shall be recorded in the minutes of the Committee, and be reported to the House. T. K. Sidey, sth November, 192.0. Member of Committee.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Railways Committee, consisting of ten members, has held ten meetings during the session. The following table shows the disposal of the business which came before the Committee :— Number of petitions referred to the Committee ... ... ... 36 Number of petitions dealt with ... ... ... ... ...35 Number of reports presented to the House ... ... ... ... 21 Number of petitions referred for favourable consideration ... ... 1 Number referred for consideration ... ... ... ... ... 10 Number of petitions given "No recommendation" ... ... 22 Number referred to other Committees ... ... .. .. 2 Number of petitions held over ... ... ... ... ... 1 Bill reported on ... ... ... ... ... .. 1 sth November, 1920.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (450 copies), £5 10a.

By Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—1920.

Price 3d,.]