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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1921 Session I-II, I-06

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Session 11. 1921. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE). (Mr. BOLLARD, 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 eleven members, to examine and report upon questions relating to railways ; with power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Bollard, Mr. J. S. Dickson, Mr. Glenn, Mr. Howard, the Right Hon. Mr. Massey, Mr. Nash, Mr. Sidey, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Veitch, Mr. Witty, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Guthrie.) Tuesday, the 11th Day op 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.) Wednesday, the 2nd Day of November, 1921. Ordered, " That the name of Mr. Veitch be omitted from the Railways Committee, and that the name of Mr. S. G. Smith be substituted therefor." —(Hon. Mr. Guthrie.) Monday, the 12th Day of December, 1921. Ordered, " That the Petition of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand be referred direct to the Railways Committee." —(Mr. Veitch.) Tuesday, the 17th Day op January, 1922. Ordered, " That the petition of B. W. Dagg and others be referred direct to the Railways Committee."—(Mr. Horn.) Tuesday, the 31st Day op January, 1922. Ordered, " That the Government Railways Amendment Bill be referred to the Railways Committee " —(Hon. Mr. Guthrie.)

INDEX.

No. Petitions, &c. Page. No. Petitions, &c. Page. 170 171 Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (re soldier apprentices) Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (re retiring-age) Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (re W. J. Mather) 3 3 64 137 61 Hodge, William Hopkirk, Lillie .. Longman, Ernest 2 2 2 306 3 112 180 Marshall, Frederick Moss, Mary, and 38 others 3 3 350 184 156 3 Dagg, B. W., and 414 others Derbidge, Mona M. .. Dobbie, Elizabeth T. Dore, Teresa M. 3 2 2 3 298/20 Pearson, George A. .. 3 153 Shand, C. R., and 201 others.. Special report 2 4 Final report, 4 197 109 2 2 Government Railways Amendment Bill 3 Walker, Hugh T. B. Wallace, Ellen F. ..-

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REPORTS. No. 184. —Petition of Mona Maud Derbidge, of Taihape. Praying for compensation for the death of her late husband whilst in the employ of the Railway Department. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th November, 1921.

No. 136. —Petition of Elizabeth Tomina Dobbie, of Dunedin. Praying for compensation from the Railway Department for death of her late husband. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th November, 1921.

No. 64. —Petition of William Hodge, of Christchurch. Praying for compensation for loss of position in the Railway Department. I am directed to report that the Committee, after an exhaustive inquiry, has no recommendation to make. 24th November, 1921.

No. 137.—Petition of Lillie Hopkirk, of Lower Hutt. Praying for compensation for death of her late husband, who was killed while carrying out his duties as shunter. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th November, 1921.

No. 61. —Petition of Ernest Longman, of 49 Cleveland Street, St. Albans, Christchurch. Praying for compassionate allowance for injuries sustained in an accident at the Addington Workshops. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th November, 1921.

No. 153. —Petition of C. Ralph Shand and 201 Others, of Centre Bush. Praying that the Centre Bush Railway-station be not reduced in status to a flag station. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th November, 1921.

No. 197. —Petition of Hugh Talbot Burgoyne Walker, of Papakura. Praying for compensation for alleged injury sustained whilst in the execution of his duties in the Railway service. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th November, 1921.

No. 109.—Petition of Ellen Florence Wallace, of Auckland. Praying for compensation from, the Railway Department through death of her late husband whilst an employee in the Department. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th November, 1921.

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No. 171. —Petition of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand. Praying that all Railway servants who have attained the age of sixty years, or have forty years' service, and who are eligible to retire on an allowance of £300 or over, be so retired. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 12th December, 1921.

No. 170.—Petition of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand. Praying for an investigation of the claims of returned-soldier apprentices employed in the Eailway service. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 12th December, 1921.

No. 3. —Petition of Theresa Margaret Dore, of Ngaio, Wellington. Praying for compensation for alleged injuries received in a railway accident at Ngaio. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 12th December, 1921.

No. 112. —Petition of Frederick Marshall, of Kawakawa. Praying for compensation for loss of cattle killed on railway-line. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 12th December, 1921.

No. 180.—Petition of Mary Moss, of Auckland, and 38 Others. Praying that free railway passes be granted to the inmates of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind once a year. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 12th December, 1921.

No. 298/20. —Petition of George Arthur Pearson, of Wellington. Praying for the promotion which he alleges is due to him in the Railway service. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that, in accordance with the request of the petitioner, leave be given for this petition to be withdrawn. 12th December, 1921.

No. 306. —Petition of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand. Praying that further relief be granted to W. J. Mather, who was injured in an explosion at the Mount Egmont quarry. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion, in view of the exceptional circumstances, this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration for a compassionate allowance. • 21st December, 1921.

Government Railways Amendment Bill. The Railways 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. Ist February, 1922.

No. 350. —Petition of B. W. Dagg, of Queenstown, and 414 Others. Praying for the summer tourist traffic to the Lakes district to be extended over the Easter period, as in former years, and that week-end excursions be reinstated. I am directed to_ report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 2nd February, 1922.

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Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Railways Committee, consisting of eleven members, has held eight meetings during the session, with an average attendance at each meeting of eight members. The following table shows the disposal of the business which came before the Committee :— Number of petitions referred to the Committee .. .. • • .. 17 Number of petitions dealt with .. .. ■ • ■ • • • '' i« Number of reports presented to the House .. '' « Number of petitions referred for favourable consideration .. .. .. 2 Number referred for consideration . . . • • • • • '' f Number of petitions given "No recommendation " .. •• •• j Number of petitions withdrawn .... • • • • ■ • '' i Number of petitions held over . . . . • • • • • • ! Bill reported on . . • ■ • • • ■ .... 9th February, 1922. R- *■ Bollard, Chairman.

Special Rrport. 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, 9th February, 1922. Member of Committee.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (450 copies), £4 10s.

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

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