LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. E. NEWMAN, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1921 Session I-II, I-05

I—l. 5.

1.-5,

Session 11. 1921. NEW ZEALAND.

LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. E. NEWMAN, Chairman.)

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

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 28th Day oe September, 1921. Ordered " That Standing Order No. 219 be suspended, and that a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of twelve members, to whom shall stand referred, after the first reading, all Bills affecting or in any way relating to the lands of the Crown, or education or other public reserves ; the Committee to have power to make such amendments therein as they may think proper, and to report generally when necessary upon the principles and provisions of the Bill ■ the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Bitchener, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Glenn, Mr. J. R. Hamilton, Mr. Hockly, Mr. Jones, Mr. E Newman Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Savage, Mr. R. W. Smith, Mr. Witty, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Guthrie.) Tuesday, the 27th Day oe September, 1921. Ordered, "That the Forests Bill be referred to the Lands Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Guthrie.) Tuesday, the 11th Day oe October, 1921. Ordered, " That all 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 sessions."—(Right Hon. Mr. Massey.) Thursday, the 27th Day of October, 1921. Ordered, " That the petitions of F. Waite and others, and G. D. McDonald and others, be referred direct to the Lands Committee."—(Mr. Malcolm.) Wednesday, the 30th Day of November, 1921. Ordered, " That the petition of L. Mackenzie and others be referred direct to the Lands Committee."—(Mr. T W Rhodes.) Thursday, the 12th Day of January, 1922. Ordered, "That the petition of B. Rosenberg, presented on the 11th instant, he referred diiect to the Lands Committee."—(Mr. Holland.) Monday, the 30th Day of January, 1922. Ordered, " That the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Bill be referred to the Lands Committee "—- -(Hon. Mr. Guthrie.)

1.—5

2

INDEX.

REPOETB. Hunter Gift for the Settlement of Discharged Soldiers Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed with the amendment as shown on the copy attached hereto. 25th October, 1921.

Forests Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that, with the exception of Part VI, the . Bill be allowed to proceed with amendments as shown on the copy attached hereto. The Com- ' mittee is of opinion that the Bill should be referred to the Native Affairs Committee for the consideration of Part VI. 28th October, 1921.

No. 130.—Petition of John Steel and 10 Others. Praying for legislation to enable acquisition of freehold of holdings of national-endowment land in Rotorua and Tauranga Counties. I am directed to report that, as a question of policy is involved, the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition, but that the Committee is sympathetic to the prayer of the petitioners. 3rd November, 1921.

No. Petitions, Ac. j Page. No. Petitions, Ac. Page. Auckland City Loans Consolidation and Empowering Bill Auckland Electric-power Board Bill 3 136 Ohinemuri County Council 4 5 Picton Recreation Reserve Amendment Bill Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Bill 4 115 Blucher, A, and 13 others 4 li 268 167 Campbell, S, and 327 others Coromandel County Council 4 4 5 Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Bill Final report Forests Bill 5 343 Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill Rosenberg, B. 6 349 Hall, F. .. Harbours Amendment Bill Hayward, C, and 18 others Hunter Gift for the Settlement of Discharged Soldiers Bill 6 2 6 5 4 O 4L, 360/20 130 187 Shadbolt, Ada M. .. Steel, John, and 10 others Stichbury, T, and another Special report (re Chairman) Special report (re Clerk) 5 2 4 6 6 110 . Taieri River Improvement Amendment Bill Thames County Council Thomdon Reclamation Bill Tolaga Bay Harbour Board Empowering Bill 3 344/20: Jackman, J. J. Judea Land Drainage Empowering Bill 3 3 101 4 6 3 Land Laws Amendment Bill 5 282 186 60 Mackenzie, L, and 21 others McDonald, G. D, and 49 others Mclnnes, W, and 23 others 5 3 4 185 4 Waite, F, and 51 others Wanganui Harbour Board Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill Whakatane Harbour Bill Whangarei County Council Wouldes, Matthew 3 3 4 Napier Harbour Board and Napier High School Empowering Amendment Bill Napier Harbour Enabling Bill 5 5 142 364/20 4 4 3

3

I—s

No. 185, Petition of F. Waite and 51 Others ; and No. 186, Petition of G. D. McDonald and 49 Others. Praying for remission of rent and revaluation of sections in the Clifton Soldier Settlement. I have the honour to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to these petitions, but is of opinion that every encouragement should be given to the settlers who are at present in occupation of sections, that the sections which are not at present occupied should be utilized to the best advantage in accordance with local conditions, and that the matter of revaluation be held over until conditions become normal. 18th November, 1921.

No. 4.—Petition of the Wanganui Harbour Board. Praying for restriction of the operations of the Railway Department on reclaimed and other lands adjacent to the wharf at Wanganui. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Railways Committee. 18th November, 1921.

Auckland City Loans Consolidation and Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 24th November, 1921.

Taieri River Improvement Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 24th November, 1921.

Tolaga Bay Harbour Board Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to' proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 24th November, 1921.

Judea Land Drainage Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 24th November, 1921.

No. 364/20. —Petition of Matthew Wouldes. Praying for a compassionate allowance because of injury alleged to have been received while in the Government service, and because of forfeiture of Government lease. I have the honour to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. sth December, 1921.

No. 344/20.—Petition of J. J. Jackman, of Mercury Bay. Praying for legislation to enable him to acquire the title to Section 215, Parish of Waimana. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, and that the matter should be dealt with in the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill of this session. sth December, 1921.

2—l. 5

1.—5

4

Whakatane Harbour Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed with amendment as shown on copy of the Bill attached hereto. sth December, 1921.

Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. sth December, 1921.

Picton Recreation Reserve Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. sth December, 1921.

No. 101, Petition of Thames County Council ; No. 136, Petition of Ohinemuri County Council ; No. 142, Petition of Whangarei County Council ; and No. 167, Petition of Coromandel County Council. Praying for consideration of the matter of the loss to local authorities of royalties formerly received on timber and flax. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee these petitions should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 7th December, 1921.

No. 60, Petition of Walter Mclnness and 23 Others; and No. 187, Petition of Thomas Stitchbury and Another. Praying for a revaluation of their sections in the Hauraki Plains area. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee the time is not opportune for. revaluation, as the land requires time before it can become fully productive, and that a continued postponement of rent in the meantime is a satisfactory policy. 13th December, 1921.

No. 110, Petition of Charles Hayward and 18 Others. Praying that provision be made for roading Takahue-Whangape Block. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee, as the estimates are being prepared, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 15th December, 1921.

No. 268. —Petition of S. Campbell and 327 Others, of Hawera County. Praying for a revaluation of Hawera County. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 15th December, 1921.

No. 115.—Petition of Alfred Blucher and 13 Others. Praying that steps be taken to render Motutangi Swamp lands available for occupation. I have the honour to report that, as a question of policy is involved, the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 15th December, 1921.

5

1.—5

Napier Harbour Board and Napier High School Empowering Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 15th December, 1921.

Napier Harbour Board Enabling Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 15th December, 1921.

Auckland Electric-power Board Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 19th December, 1921.

No. 360/20.—Petition of Ada M. Shadbolt, of Okauia, Matamata. Praying for compensation for losses incurred through occupation of a backblocks section. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 19th January, 1922.

No. 282.—Petition of L. Mackenzie and 21 Others, of Hauraki Plains County. Praying for legislation to remedy anomalies with regard to rates on certain lands in the Hauraki Plains County. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a view to the appointment of a Commission to investigate the whole question. 30th January, 1922.

Harbours Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed with amendments as shown on the copy attached hereto. 30th January, 1922.

Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill.be allowed to proceed with amendment as shown on copy attached hereto. Ist February, 1922.

Land Laws Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 2nd February, 1922.

Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed with amendments as shown on copy attached hereto. 2nd February, 1922.

1.—5

6

No. 349. —Petition of Frederick Hall, of Gisborne. Praying for relief with regard to terms of an expired lease of Lots 47 and 48 of the Town of Gisborne. I have the honour to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. Bth February, 1922.

No. 343. —Petition of B. Rosenberg. Praying for restoration of property formerly held by him in Brighton Survey District, and for compensation for loss. I have the honour to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. Bth February, 1922.

Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 9th February, 1922.

Thorndon Reclamation Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 9th February, 1922.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the able and careful manner in which Mr. Harris has carried out his duties as Clerk to the Committee, and hopes that, if possible, the Committee will have the benefit of his services next session. Bth February, 1922.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee, consisting of twelve members, has held nineteen meetings during the session, the average attendance at each meeting being eight members. Twenty petitions were referred to the Committee, and, of these, nineteen were considered and reported upon, and one is held over until next session. Eighteen Bills were referred to the Committee, and all of these were considered and reported upon. Bth February, 1922. E. Newman, Chairman.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the ability, tact, and courtesy displayed by Mr. E. Newman as Chairman of the Committee. F. F. Hockly, Bth February, 1922. Member of Committee.

Approximate Cost of Paper: Preparation, not given; printing (450 copies), £7.

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

Price 6d.]