PUBLIC PETITIONS A TO L COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. WRIGHT, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1925 Session I, I-01

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1925. NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC PETITIONS A TO L COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. WRIGHT, Chairman.)

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

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from .the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 16th Day or July, 1925. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all petitions from Ato L 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 be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Bartram, Mr. Bitchener, Mr. Burnett, Mr. Harris, Mr. Lye, Mr. Munro, Mr. Ransom, Mr. J. C. Rolleston, Mr. Wright, and the mover."—(Hon. Sir C. J. Park.) Thursday, the 10th Day of September, 1925. Ordered, " That the petition of F. G. Dalziell be referred back to the Public Petitions A to L Committee for further consideration."—(Sir John Luke.) Ordered, " That the petition of W. S. Dryden be referred back to the Public Petitions A to L Committee for further consideration." —(Mr. Sidey.) Wednesday, the 16th Day oe September, 1925. Ordered, " That the petition of E. Burgoyne and others be referred back to the Public Petitions A to L Committee for further consideration."—(Mr. Bartram.)

INDEX.

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No. Petitioner. Page. No. j Petitioner. Page. 1 Allan, Arthur .. .. .. 3 6 Elliott, William James .. .. 2 45 Arthur, Thomas William .. .. 3 188 Esther, Robert Thompson .. .. 4 2 Baikie, George .. .. 2 9 Farley, C. T. D., and 433 others .. 3 101 Booth and Co. (Limited) .. .. 4 .. Final report .. .. .. 5 4 Burgoyne, E., and 139 others (two 3,5 reports) ! 415/24 Garrett, Frank Ernest .. .. 2 413/24 Campbell, James .. .. ..2 25 Hill, Henry Ewart .. .. .. 2 255 Cookburn, William Reginald .. 4 248 Hodgson, Edward Gregg .. .. 4 112 Cooper, Wilham Saunderson .. .. 3 244 Husband, Agnes E. J. (Mrs.) .. 5 198 Couper, William A. X 4 23 Lake> Fre derick James .. ..2 108 Dalziell, Frederick George (two reports) 2,4 j <jv " " " 2 on °T' M^ rth f (Mrs.) 4 , Lovelock, Henrietta Bella (Mrs.) .. 4 20 Dryden, William bmith (two reports) 3,5 x ' 147 Dunne, Martin Savory .. .. 3 ! 2 19 Robbie, John .. .. .. 4 416/24 Edmonds, James George .. .. 3 j . • Special report (re Chairman) .. .. 5

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REPORTS. No. 415/24. —Petition of Frank? Ernest Garrett, of Waikato. Praying for compensation for alleged wrongful arrest for an offence of which he was subsequently acquitted. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee (1) The petitioner is innocent of the charge him; (2) the evidence"*beforeTtheVpolice justified the arrest and prosecution of the petitioner ; (3) no claim for compensation has been established. The Committee therefore has no recommendation to make. 19th August, 1925.

No. 6. —Petition of William James Elliott," of Auckland. Praying for compassionate allowance, on account of moneys having been wrongfully withdrawn from his Post Office Savings-bank Account. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 19th August, 1925.

No. 23.—Petition of Frederick James Lake, of Auckland. Praying for a compassionate allowance to cover his loss of capital and business of motor-car number-plate manufacturer, as the Motor-vehicles Act, 1924, destroyed the value of his patent. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 19th August, 1925.

No. 25. —Henry Ewart Hill, of Gisborne. Praying for a refund of rent and telephone fees paid by him during the time he was Registrar of Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Electors for Gisborne District. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 10th September, 1925.

No. 108.—Petition of Frederick George Dalziell, of Wellington. (First Report.) Praying that a Royal Commission, or other authoritative tribunal, may be set up to sift what men in New Zealand really know about the constitution of life from what they merely believe about it. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that the subject-matter of the petition is outside the scope of investigation by a Parliamentary Committee, and therefore recommend the petition direct to the Government for consideration. 10th September, '1925. (Referred back to the Committee for further consideration.)

No. 130. —Petition of Michael Leydon, of Hawera. Praying for a refund of interest on death duties paid by the petitioner to the Commissioner of Stamp Duties. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th September, 1925.

No. 413/24. —Petition of James Campbell, of Kingsland, Auckland. Praying for compensation for physical injuries sustained as the result of an accident which occurred on the Auckland Wharf. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th September, 1925.

No. 2. —Petition of George Baikie, of Timaru. Praying for rebate of interest paid to State Advances Office. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 10th September, 1925.

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No. 147.- -Petition of Martin Savory Dunne, of Auckland. Praying for refund of stamp duty paid on an agreement to purchase land, the agreement not having been completed. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 10th September, 1925.

No. 9. —Petition of C. T. D. Farley and 433 Others, of Karekare, Auckland. Praying that action be taken in the direction of repairing and maintaining the roads in the West Auckland scenic districts, so that they may be accessible to tourists and residents of the district. I am directed to report —(1) That, if not already rateable by law (as we understand is the case), the Committee recommends legislation to make Cornwallis Park and Kaitarakai Park liable for rates ; (2) that, as regards the Waikumete-West Coast Road, the Committee recommends that the Auckland City Council and the Waitemata County Council should confer with a view to the Auckland City Council making some contribution to the construction and upkeep of this road, and that failing- some fair and equitable arrangement the petitioners should again approach Parliament. 10th September, 1925.

No. 20—Petition of William Smith Dryden, of South Dunedin. (First Report.) Praying for a compassionate allowance on account of permanent injuries sustained by him while employed in the Public Works Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th September, 1925. (Report referred back to the Committee for further consideration.)

No. 4. —Petition of E. Burgoyne and 139 Others, of Auckland. (First Report.) Praying for a rehearing of the case of E. E. P. Shortland, now serving sentence in H.M. Prison at Auckland. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th September, 1925. (Report referred back to the Committee for further consideration.)

No. 45.—Petition of Thomas William Arthur, of Auckland. Praying for redress and compensation for alleged wrongful arrest. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 16th September, 1925.

No. 416/24. —Petition of James George Edmonds, of Auckland. Praying that the by-law dealing with encroachment be rigidly enforced with respect to a section on which he has erected a dwelling. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that petitioner has not exhausted his legal remedies, and therefore it has no recommendation to make. 16th September, 1925.

No. 1. —Petition of Arthur Allan, of Wanganui. Praying for refund of legal expenses incurred in defending a charge against him by the police of which he was acquitted. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 16th September, 1925.

No. 112. —Petition of William Saunderson Cooper, of Wellington. Praying that he may be reinstated in the Public Service as Resident Commissioner at Savai'i, or equivalent position, or, in the alternative, other relief. I am directed to report that the Committee is of the opinion that petitioner has suffered a grave injustice, and is entitled.to reinstatement in an administrative position in the Island service, and therefore recommends this petition to the Government for urgent and favourable consideration. . . liStli September, 1925.

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No. 101.—Petition of Booth and Co. (London), Limited. Praying for a refund of the amount paid in error, in excess of the income-tax due, for the years 1918-19. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 22nd September, 1925.

No. 37. —Petition of Thomas Leslie, of Okahukura. Praying foi - a compassionate allowance on account of injuries sustained by him while employed 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 consideration. 22nd September, 1925.

No. 218.—Petition of Henrietta Bella Lovelock, of Palmerston North. Praying for legislation to enable her to take legal action with regard to the purchase of a farm property. I am directed to report that, as the petitioner has not exhausted her legal remedy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 22nd September, 1925.

No. 248. —Petition of Edward Gregg Hodgson, of Makareao, Otago. Praying for compensation for losses in farming at the Pukenui Settlement. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 25th September, 1925.

No. 198. —Petition of William A. X. Couper, of Havelock North. Praying for refund of stamp duty paid on an uncompleted purchase of land. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 25th Spetember, 1925.

No. 188. —Petition of Robert Thompson Esther, of Wairoa, Hawke's Bay. Praying for recognition of his claim for superannuation allowance withheld by National Provident Fund. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 29th September, 1925.

No. 108. —Petition of Frederick George Dalziell, of Wellington. (Second Report.) Praying that a Royal Commission, or other authoritative tribunal, may be set up to sift what men in New Zealand really know about the constitution of life from what they merely believe about it. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 29th September, 1925.

No. 219. —Petition of John Robbie, of Southland. Praying for compensation for alleged wrongful dismissal as manager of Borstal Institution FarmI am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th September, 1925.

No. 255.—Petition of William Reginald Cockburn, of Mangere (Auckland). Praying for a compassionate grant on account of discovering an improved method of extracting gum from the soil. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th September, 1925.

No. 235. —Petition of Gladys Martha Dowse, of Wellington. Praying for amendment to Part 111 of the Infants Act, 1908, in reference to orders of adoption. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th September, 1925.

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No. 20. —Petition of William Smith Dryden, of Dunedin. (Second Report.) Praying for a compassionate allowance for permanent injuries sustained by him while employed in the Public Works Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th September, 1925.

No. 4. —Petition of E. Burgoyne and 139 Others, of Auckland. (Second Report). Praying for a rehearing of the case of F. E. P. Shortland, now serving sentence in H.M. Prison at Auckland. I am directed to report that, as petitioners have not exhausted their legal remedy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th September, 1925.

No. 244. —Petition of Agnes E. J. Husband, of New Plymouth. Praying for a compassionate grant in respect of a land transaction at Glencaim Settlement. Turakina, and the action of the Public Trustee therewith. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th September, 1925.

Special Report. The Committee desires to place on record its high appreciation of the capable and impartial manner in which the Chairman, Mr. Wright, has presided over its deliberations during the session. F. Bartram, 29th September, 1925. Member of the Committee.

Final Report. The Public Petitions A to L Committee, consisting of ten members, held sixteen meetings during the session, with an average attendance at each meeting of six members. Thirty-four petitions were referred to the Committee, and twenty-six petitions were dealt with, as under: — Referred to the Government for favourable consideration .. .. 7 Referred to the Government for consideration .. .. .. 5 Petitions on which Committee made no recommendation .. .. .. 14 26 Held over until next session .. .. .. 8 34 29th September, 1925.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (475 copies), £6 ss.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l92s.

Prion 6id.]