PUBLIC PETITIONS M TO Z COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. J. McC. DICKSON, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1921 Session I-II, I-02

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Session 11. 1921. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC PETITIONS M TO Z COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. J. McC. DICKSON, Chairman.)

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

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 28th Day of September, 1921. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all petitions from M to Z that may be referred to it by the Petitions Classification Committee ; to classify and prepare abstracts of such petitions in such form and manner as shall appear to it best suited to convey to this House all requisite information respecting their contents, and to report the same from time to time to this House, and to have power to report its opinions and observations thereon to this House ; also to have power to call for persons and papers ; three to he a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Craigie, Mr. J. McC. Dickson, Mr. A. Hamilton, Mr. Hawken, Mr. Horn Mr. Mander, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Statham, Mr. Sullivan, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Lee.) Tuesday, the 11th Day oe October, 1921. Ordered, " That all the petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1920 and the short session of 1921 be again referred to the same Committees as they were referred to during the said session."—(Right Hon. Mr. Massey.) Wednesday, the 21st Day op December, 1921. Ordered, " That the report of the Public Petitions M to Z Committee on the petition of the Waiapu County Council and others be referred back to the Committee for further consideration."—(Mr. Lysnar.)

INDEX.

No. Petitioner, &c. Page. No. Petitioner, &c. Page. 123 Auckland, Right Rev. Bishop of, and 10,129 others Auckland, Right Rev. Bishop of, and 15 others 2 231 Nottingham, A. C. .. 4 236 3 367/20 Pearce, Mary A. 2 164 354 2 7 290 Ross, Wallace H. .. 6 Baker, Ethel M., and 85 others Burnett, Frances, and 138 others 243 272 Sadlier, Edith, and 74 others Scott, Agnes, and 293 others (and 7 similar petitions) Shadbolt, E. F. Shadbolt, E. P. Sinclair, Ada M. J. .. Soufflot, Marion C. .. Souter, A. L. Southey, H.. and 88 others Special report Stephenson, C. W. .. Stone, David .'. 4 4 135 Christchurch, Right Rev. Bishop of, and 3,964 others 2 255 263 4, Sess. 1. 371/20 270 169 7 7 2 6 6 3 8 3 5 Crimes Act, 1908 2 Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1920 4, 5 Final report 8 114 244 242 347 245 Helyer, Eliza, and 315 others Herbert, E., and 110 others Hutchinson, Edith, and 621 others 2 7 4 294 168 157 Tabor, Rebecca Tauranga Borough Council Troutbeck, H. E., and 15 others 5 3 3 297 Johnston, S. M., and 97 others (and 23 similar petitions) 5 14 Vaile, E. E., and 124 others 3 13 271 340 355 285 286 76 65 232 302/20 100 348 352/20 Kusabs, Charles E., and 24 others Mason, David Mason, Henrietta W. Mayo, Henry W. .. Meikle, J. J. Meikle, J. J. Mewhinney, Oliver Moore, Alexander Mullany, Mary Myers, John Scott Macalister, Robert McCarthy, A. and W McDougall, E., and 303 others 3 5 6 7 4 5 6 3 5 3 4 7 2 116 116 292 359 338 298 104 29 Waiapu, Right Rev. Bishop of, and 2 others Waiapu County Council, and 3 other local bodies Waitt, Thomas G. .. Wanganui and Inland District Development League Wanganui River Trust White, Henry White, J. J. W. Williams, W. J., and 4,174 others (and 45 similar petitions) Williams, W. J., and 1,052 others Wrenn, Thomas A. .. 3 5, 6 5 7 6 7 3 2 163 259 4 4

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REPORTS.

No. 4, Sess. I.—Petition of Ada M. J. Sinclair, of Christchurch. Praying for a compassionate allowance in respect of the services of her late husband, Robert Sinclair of the Lands and Deeds Department. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 2nd November, 1921.

No. 367/20. —Petition of Mary Ann Pearce, of Gisborne. Praying for a compassionate allowance consequent on the death of her husband, the late Police, Constable Pearce. I am directed to report that, the prayer of this petition having been met during the recess, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 2nd November, 1921.

No. 352/20.—Petition of E. McDougall, of Waihopo, and 303 Others. Praying that legislation imposing a royalty on kauri-gum recovered on Crown and private lands should not be introduced. I am directed to report that, as the matter of this petition is the subject of proposed legislation, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 2nd November, 1921.

No. 123, Petition of the Right Rev. the Bishop op Auckland and 10,129 Others; No. 135, Petition of the Right Rev. the Bishop op Christchurch and 3,964 Others ; No. 164, Petition of Ethel M. Baker, of Christchurch, and 85 Others ; No. 242, Petition of Eliza Helyer, of Wellington, and 315 Others. Praying that clause 216 of the Crimes Act, 1908, may be amended by substituting the word " eighteen " for the word " sixteen " wherever it occurs in the said clause, and that the word " twelve " may be substituted for the word " six " in subsection (3) of the said clause. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on the first request of the prayer of the said petitions ; and that in the opinion of the Committee the second request of the said prayer should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 18th November, 1921.

No. 29.—Petition of W. J. Williams, of Christchurch, and 4,174 Others, and 45 similar Petitions (as per Schedule attached). Praying that the proviso to subsection (2) of sections 208 and 216 of the Crimes Act, 1908, may be deleted. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee these petitions should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 18th November, 1921.

Schedule. No. 30.—A. F. Hand and 24 others. No. 53.—5. P. Murley and 24 others. No. 31.—E. M. Hunter and 355 others. No. 54.—M. W. Shelley and 24 others. No. 32. —A. H. Barnett and 196 others. No. 55.—L. D. Worsley and 24 others. No. 33. —George Manning and 379 others. No. 56. —T. J. Tucker and 24 others. No. 34.—8. Clarke and 24 others. No. 57.—E. F. Leach and 23 others. No. 35.—W. S. Lovell-Smith and 24 others. No. 58.—C. E. Owen and 17 others No. 36.—C. Meares and 24 others. No. 59.—E. G. Spiers and 442 others. No. 37.—F. J. Barnard and 24 others. No. 73.—W. J. Studholme and 360 others. No. 38.—A. A. Werry and 24 others. No. 74.—5. E. Evans and 337-others. No. 39. —C. S. Joseph and 24 others. No. 79. —E. Brownley and 16 others. No. 40. —W. C. Purdie and 24 others. No. 80.—Rose Cameron and 8 others. No. 41.—J. J. Glass and 24 others. No. 127.—Social Hygiene Society. No. 42.—E. F. Wilson and 24 others. No. 189.—M. G Penglase and 32 others. No. 43. —D. Jackson and 24 others. No. 190. —Elizabeth Williams and 25 others. No. 44.—5. Sharpe and 24 others. No. 205. —A. Rushworth and 79 others. No. 45.—Louisa Burns and 24 others. No. 213.—G. Ward and 23 others. No. 46.—W. C. Satchell and 24 others. No. 214,—Ellen Dickson and 33 others. No. 47.—A. J. Kemp and 24 others. • No. 215.—P. H. A. Chapman and 68 others. No. 48.—M. Phillips and 24 others. No. 216.—Margaret Wvatt and 60 others. No. 49.—C. J. Ward and 24 others. No. 217.—G. Kenney and 46 others. No. 50.—E. Brown and 24 others. No. 218.—M. J. Brodie and 199 others. No. 51.—N. O. White and 24 others. No. 222.—Elizabeth Wilson and 57 others. No. 52.—F. Ffitch and 24 others.

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No. 104.—Petition of J. J. W. White, of Blenheim. Praying for compensation for loss incurred in conducting the Public Trust Agency at Blenheim. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 18th November, 1921.

No. 65. —Petition of Alexander Moore, of Yaldhurst, Canterbury. Praying for the rehearing of a certain action and counter-claim for damages between petitioner and one Cross. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 18th November, 1921.

No. 114.-—Petition of C. W. Stephenson, of Wellington. Fraying for redress for alleged wrongful dismissal from the Post and Telegraph Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 18th November, 1921.

No. 13, Petition of Charles E. Kdsabs, of Whakarewarewa, and 24 Others ; No. 14, Petition of Ernest E. Vaile, of Waiotapu, and 124 Others; No. 157, Petition of H. E. Troutbeck, of Murupara, and 15 Others ; No. 168, Petition of Tauranga Borough Council. Praying for the construction of a railway from Rotorua to Taupo, as recommended in 1920 by this Committee and a Royal Commission. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee these petitions should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 25th November, 1921.

No. 169.—Petition of H. Southey, of Tauranga, and 88 Others. Praying for the expediting of the construction of the East Coast Main Trunk Railway between Waihi and Opotiki. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for immediate favourable consideration, with a view to as large a provision as possible being made in the forthcoming public-works estimates for the expediting of the construction of this railway, and especially of the sections between Waihi and Tauranga. 7th December, 1921.

No. 116, Petition of the Right Rev. the Bishop op Waiapu and 2 Others ; and No. 236, Petition of the Right Rev. the Bishop op Auckland and 15 Others. Praying for the repeal of section 7 of the Marriage Amendment Act, 1920, and section 4 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1920. I am directed to report that as to the request for the repeal of section 7 of the Marriage Amendment Act, 1920, the Committee has no recommendation to make : and that to the request for the repeal of section 4 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1920, the Committee is of opinion that these petitions should be referred to the Government, for favourable consideration, with a view to depriving the guilty party of all right to initiate divorce proceedings under the said section. 7th December, 1921.

No. 302/20. —Petition of John Scott Myers, of Marshland, Christchurch. Praying for the removal from the files of the Supreme Courts of New Zealand of a certain judgment given by the late Mr. Justice Denniston and for other relief. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 7th December, 1921.

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No. 272. —Petition of Agnes Scott, of Gisborne, and 293 Others, and 7 similar Petitions (as per Schedule attached). Praying for the repeal of section 4 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1920. I am directed to report that in he opinion of the Committee these petitions should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a view to depriving the guilty party of all right to initiate divorce proceedings under the said section. 7th December, 1921.

Schedule. No. 273.—Charlotte Jordan and 180 others. | No. 283. —Mary Williamson and 947 others. No. 278. —Jessie Graham and 2,759 others. No. 288.—Belle Rathbone and 468 others. No. 279. —Elizabeth A. Robertson and 300 others. No. 293.—M. P. Vercoe and 153 others. No. 280.—C. W. Humphreys and 459 others. |

No. 243, Petition of Edith Sadlier, of Nelson, and 74 Others ; and No. 245, Petition of Ethel Hutchinson, of Dannevirke, and 621 Others. Praying for the repeal of section 4 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1920. I am directed to report hat in the opinion of the Committee these petition, should be referred to the Government or favourable consideration, with a vi w to depriving the guilty party of all right to initiate proceedings under the said section. 7th December, 1921.

No. 100. —Petition of Robert Macaltster, of Auckland. Praying for further compensation for loss of office. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government fo: favourable consideration, with a suggestion that petitioner's pension should be increased to £150 per annum. 7th December, 1921.

No. 163. —Petition of W. J. Williams, of Christchurch, and 1,052 Others. Praying for the appoin'ment of women as Justices of the Peace, jurors, and police. I am directed to report hat the Committee has no recommendation to make 7th December, 1921.

No. 259. —Petition of Thomas A. Wrenn, of Christchurch. Praying for compensation for expenses incurred in connection with certain litigation. I am directed to report that in ihe opinion o the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 15th December, 1921.

No. 231. —Petition of A. C. Nottingham, of Christchurch. Praying for a refund of excess-profits tax. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to thg Government for favourable consideration. 15th December, 1921.

No. 286.—Petition of J. J. Meikle, of Auckland. Praying for further compensation for injuries sustained by him by reason of his imprisonment on a false charge. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a suggestion that it should consider the granting to petitioner of a sum of £4 per week for the remainder of his life. 21st December, 1921.

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No. 232.—Petition of Mary Mullany, of Christchurch. Praying for a compassionate allowance in respect of the services of her late husband, Inspector Luke Mullany. F I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 21st December. 1921.

No. 244.—Petition of David Stone, of Wellington. Praying for the refund of certain moneys from the Labour Department. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 21st December, 1921.

No. 292.—Petition of Thomas G. Waitt, of Auckland. Praying for a refund of deductions made from his superannuation whilst temporarily occupying a Government position. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the, Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 21st December, 1921.

No. 271. —Petition of David Mason, of Wellington. Praying for reinstatement in the Public Service, having been discharged on retrenchment. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 21st December, 1921.

No. 294. —Petition of Rebecca Tabor, of Wellington. Praying for an amendment of subsection (13) of section 4 of the Sale of Liquor Restriction Act, 1917. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a suggestion that legislation be introduced immediately amending subsection (13) of section 4 of the Sale of Liquor Restriction Act, 1917, by deleting all the words after the word " force " to the end of the subsection, and inserting the words " until the Ist day of February, 1922," in place thereof. 21st December, 1921.

No. 285.—Petition of J. J. Meikle, of Auckland. Praying for an inquiry into the conduct of certain persons before the Meikle Royal Commission. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 21st December, 1921.

No. 196. —Petition of the Waiapu County Council and 3 other Local Bodies. Praying for an amendment of the Gisborne Harbour Board Enabling Act, 1919. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 21st December, 1921. (Referred back to the Committee for further consideration.)

No. 297.—Petition of S. M. Johnston, of Takapau, and 97 Others, and 23 similar Petitions (as per Schedule attached). Praying for the repeal of section 4 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1920. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee these petitions should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a view to depriving the guilty party of all right to initiate divorce proceedings under the said section. 21st December, 1921.

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Schedule. No. 299.—M. H. Jones and 248 others. No. 324.—E. E. Clarkson and 1,614 others. No. 300.—Mary G. Bibby and 67 others. No. 325.—H. J. Marriner and 2,373 others. No. 301. —Catherine Curtis and 22 others. No. 321.—Edith Emmerson and 144 others. No. 310.—Margaret Harding and 222 others. No. 326. —Right Rev. Bishop Julius and 1,892 No. 311.—Rose E. Wilson and 32 others. others. No. 316. —Elizabeth Willis and 3,076 others. No. 329. —M. Alice Jennings and 130 others. No. 317.—P. Palliser and 2,042 others. No. 330.—Alice F. Webb and 100 others. No. 318.—N. L. D. Webster and 1,026 others. No. 331.—Violet A. H. Hard and 2,162 others. No. 319. —J. Campbell and 270 others. No. 331.—Bertha Forrester and 63 others. No. 320.—A. C. D. Spencer and 422 others. No. 333.—C. Flutey and 126 others. No. 322.—J. C. Adams and 1,230 others. No. 334.—H. W. Mockett and 240 others. No. 323.—Linnet Hardv and 327 others. No. 339.—R. W. Coppard and 70 others.

No. 76. —Petition of Oliver Mewhinney, of Wellington. Praying for reimbursement of his costs of certain Supreme Court proceedings. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration and inquiry. 12th January, 1922.

No. 340. —Petition of Henrietta W. Mason, of Christchurch. Praying that in the event of section 4 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1920, being amended so as to take away from the guilty party the right of filing a divorce petition, the granting of a decree absolute against your petitioner may be forbidden and the existing decree nis-i. quashed. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for urgent favourable consideration. 19th January, 1922.

No. 270. —Petition of Arthur L. Souter, of Auckland. Praying for a refund of legal expenses in connection with certain litigation. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 19th January, 1922.

No. 290. —Petition of Wallace H. Ross, of Ramarama Creek. Praying for compensation for certain losses incurred in litigation. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 25th January, 1922.

No. 371/20.—-Petition of Marion C. Soupplot, of Ohakune. Praying for a compassionate allowance in consideration of the valuable services of her late husband in the Public Works Department. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 25th January, 1922.

No. 338. —Petition of the Wanganui River Trust, of Wanganui. Praying for a publicly owned transport service on the Wanganui River between Taumarunui and Wanganui, or the empowering of the Wanganui River Trust to set up a transport service. I am directed to report— -(1) That, the member presenting this petition desiring to withdraw the first prayer thereof, the Committee has no recommendation to make on it; and (2) that in the opinion of the Committee the second prayer of this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 25th January, 1922.

No. 196.—Petition of the Waiapu County Council and 3 other Local Bodies. (Second Report.) Praying for an amendment of the Gisborne Harbour Board Enabling Act, 1919. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 25th January, 192?

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No. 255. —Petition of E. F. Shadbolt, of Okauia, Matamata. Praying for an inquiry into the circumstances attending on his detention in Mount Eden Gaol in 1921 at the suit of Alexander McCutcheon. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration and inquiry. Ist February, 1922.

No. 355.— Petition of Henry W. Mayo, of Auckland. Praying for the rehearing of a certain charge made against him of using words indicating disloyalty. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist February, 1922.

No. 298. —Petition of Henry White, of Auckland. Praying for a compassionate allowance on retrenchment from the Public Service. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be, referred to the Government for consideration. Ist February, 1922.

No. 347, Petition of E. Herbert, of Ormondville, and 110 Others; and No. 354, Frances Burnett, of Rangiora, and 138 Others. Praying for the repeal of section 4 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1920. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee these petitions should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a view to depriving the guilty party of all right to initiate divorce proceedings under the said section. Ist February, 1922.

No. 359.—Petition of the Wanganui and Inland District Development League, of Wanganui. Praying for a publicly owned transport service on the Wanganui River between Taumarunui and Wanganui, or the empowering of the Wanganui River Trust to set up such a service. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the second prayer of this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. Ist February, 1922.

No. 348. — Petition of A. and W. McCarthy, of Dunedin. Praying for further compensation on account of automatic pistols handed to the police. I am directed to report that, petitioners not having exhausted their legal remedies, the Committee has no recommendation to make. Ist February, 1922.

No. 263.—Petition of E. F. Shadbolt, of Okauia, Matamata. Praying for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the circumstances of his arrest and detention in Mount Eden Gaol in 1921 at the suit of the Taumarunui Hospital Board. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. Ist February, 1922.

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Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Public Petitions M to Z Committee, consisting of ten members, held fifteen meetings during the session. The average attendance of members at each meeting was seven. The following table shows the disposal of the business which came before the Committee :— Petitions referred to the Committee .. . . .. .. 124 Petitions dealt with .... . . .. .. . . . . 124 Reports presented to the House . . .. .. . . 43 Referred for favourable consideration .. .. .. .. 28 Referred for consideration .. .. .. . . .. .. 5 Referred for consideration and inquiry .. .. .. .. .. 2 Petitions given "No recommendation".. .. .. .. .. 7 Ist February, 1922. ■ J. McC. Dickson, Chairman.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Committee desires to record its hearty appreciation of the ability, care, and attention devoted by the Chairman, Mr. J. McC. Dickson, to the business of the Committee, and of the courteous and tactful manner in which his duties have been carried out during the session ; and further desires that this resolution shall be recorded on the minutes of the Committee and be reported to the House. James Craigie, Ist February, 1922. Member of the Committee.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not Etfven ; printing (450 copies), £9 10s.

Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington. —1922,

Price 6d.]