RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. G. WITTY, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1923 Session I-II, I-06

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Session 11. 1923. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. G. WITTY, 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 4th Day of July, 1923. 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 : the Committee to consist of Mr. J. S. Dickson, Mr. Glenn, Mr. Howard, Mr. Mcllvride, Mr. Nash, Mr. J. C. Rolleston, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Witty, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. Coates.) Ordered, " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1922 and the short session of 1923 be again referred to the same Committees as they were referred to during the said sessions."—(Right Hon. Mr. Massey.). Tuesday, the 14th Day o_ August, 1923. Ordered, " That the petition of William Murcott and another be referred direct to the Railways Committee." (Mr. Linklater.) Ordered, " That the petition of T. B. Williams and others be referred direct to the Railways Committee."— (Mr. Glenn.) Ordered, " That the petition of W. E. Wilson and others be referred direct to the Railways Committee."— (Mr. Glenn.) Monday, the 20th Day of August, 1923. Ordered, " That the report on the petition of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants be referred back to> the Railways Committee for further consideration."—-(Mr. Holland.)

EE POETS. No. 15. Petition of The Amalgamated Society op Railway Servants. (First Report.) Praying that a permanent Board be constituted to deal with the wages and conditions of employment in the New Zealand Railways Department. I am directed to report that, seeing this is a matter of policy, the Committee has no recommendation: to make. 20th August, 1923. (Referred back to the Committee for further consideration.)

No. 121. —Petition of W. J. Rodger, of Pomahaka. Praying for the reinstatement of the original or a suitable level railway-crossing to give access tohis property at Pomahaka. I am directed to report that this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 20th August, 1923.

No. 70. —Petition of W. J. Mather, of Wanganui East. Praying for compensation for injuries received while blasting, in the employ of the New Zealand Railway Department, by which he has permanently lost the sight of both eyes and is now completely blind. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for further consideration. 20th August, 1923.

No. 39.—Petition of E. L. M. Meachen, of Wellington. Praying for a compassionate allowance to help in the upbringing of her family, on account of the loss of her husband, who was accidentally killed while driving the Main Trunk express on 28th September, 1922. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. ; » 20th August, 1923. ,-

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No. 41.- —Petition of D. Sinclair and 270 Others, of Nightcaps. Praying that the Government acquire the Nightcaps Coal Company's railway from Wairio to Nightcaps. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on this petition. 20th August, 1923.

No. 169. —Petition of W. E. Wilson and 40 Others, of Wanganui. Praying that no portion of Wanganui Racecourse be taken for railway or commercial purposes. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 28th August, 1923.

No. 170.—Petition of T. B. Williams and 6,760 Others, of Wanganui. Praying that no portion of Wanganui Racecourse be taken for railway or commercial purposes. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 28th August, 1923.

No. 171. —Petition of W. Murcott and Another, of Rongotea. Praying for the adoption of automatic gates at level crossings in various parts of the Dominion. I am directed to report that in the, opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 28th August, 1923.

No. 32. —Petition of William Hodge, of Christchurch. Praying for further inquiry into his claim for compensation for loss of employment in the New Zealand Railways Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on this petition. 28th August, 1923.

No. 125.—Petition of R. H. Hanson, of Auckland. Praying for a compassionate allowance for injuries received while in the service of the New Zealand Railway Department. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 28th August, 1923.

No. 15. —Petition of The Amalgamated Society op Railway Servants. (Second Report.) Praying that a permanent Board be constituted to deal with the wages and conditions of employment in the New Zealand Railway Department. I am directed to report that, as this is a matter of policy, the Committee is of opinion that this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 28th August, 1923.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Committee, consisting of ten members, during the session held six meetings, the average attendance being eight members at each meeting. The number of meetings held by the Committee was .. .. .. 6 The number of petitions referred to the Committee was .. .. 14 The dumber of petitions referred to the Government for consideration was .. 6 The number of petitions referred to the Government for favourable consideration was .. .. • ■ • ■ • • • • • • .. 2 The number of petitions on which the Committee had no recommendation to make was .. .. • ■ • • • • • • • • .. 2 The number of petitions referred to other Committees was .. .. .. 2 The number of petitions held over was .. .. .. .. .. 2 The number of reports brought down by the Committee and presented to the House was .. .. • • • • • • •. 12 The number of petitions withdrawn was .. .. .. .. .. 1 28th August, 1923.

Approximate Cost ot Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (475 copies), £2 ss.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l923.

Price 3d.]

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