LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. HOCKLY, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1925 Session I, I-05

1.—5

1925. NEW ZEALAND.

LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. HOCKLY, Chairman.)

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

ORDER OP REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 16th Day of Jtjly, 1925. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting, of ten 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 think proper, and to report generally when necessary upon the principles and provisions of the Bills ; 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. Hockly, Mr. Langstone, Mr. McLennan, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Savage, Mr. Witty, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. McLeod.)

INDEX.

I—l. 5.

— — ———— •—V ' '* —■' No. Petition, &c. Page. No. Petition, &c. Page. Ashley River Improvement Bill .. 4 378/24 Neill, R. B. . . .. .. 3 28 Brown, John Henry .. .. 3 .. Parliamentary Paper No. 174 C (Forestry) 2 Public Reserves and Domains Amend- 4 Coal-mines Bill .. .. .. 2 ment Bill 33 Commins, Flora M. .. .. 3 - Deteriorated Lands Bill 4 89 ®angi Tutu .V .. .. 4 Deteriorated Panels BUI .. .. 4 Rawhiti Domain Board Empowering Bill 2 T7i- i f k • • Reserves and other Lands Disposal and 3,5 ■.: Paper No. 174 0) 2 PubIic Bodies Empowering Bill Forests Amendment Bill .. 2 , Amendments to above " " .. .. 5 13 Gordon-Jones, W. G., and 18 others 4 124 Steen, W. J. .. .. .. 3 dl/mi .. Special report (Chairman) .. .. 5 128/25/ Henry, Matthew .. .. .. 4 .. Special report (Clerk) .. .. 5 Hutt Valley Lands Settlement Bill 3 193 Victoria University College Council . . .. 3 187 Kinsman, A. S., and 15 others 2 Waihou Domain Board Empowering Bill 4 Land for Settlements Bill .. .. 2 .. Wanganui City Council Empowering and 2 Enabling Bill 196 McLean, R. J., and 8 others .. .. 2 207 Ward, Alfred .. .. 4. 95 Millward, Daniel B. .. .. 3 .. Whangarei Harbour Board Vesting.and;■ 2 24 Moriarty, Timothy .. .. .. 4 Empowering Bill

1.—5

2

REPORTS. Coal-mines Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the clauses relating to land have been carefully considered, and the Committee has made no amendment therein. 18th August, 1925.

Land for Settlements Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 19th August, 1925.

Wanganui City Council Empowering and Enabling Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 10th September, 1925.

Whangarei Harbour Board Vesting and Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with amendment as shown on the copy of the Bill attached. 10th September, 1925.

Rawhiti Domain Board Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with amendment as shown on the copy of the Bill attached. 10th September, 1925.

Forests Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with amendment as shown on the copy of the Bill attached. 10th September, 1925.

No. 196. —Petition of R. J. McLean and 8 Others, of South Canterbury. Praying for a reduction of rental of their holdings at Finlay Downs and Teschemaker's, South Canterbury. I have the honour to report that, while the Committee, after a close investigation of the position, is entirely in sympathy with the prayer of the petitioners, as a question of policy is involved the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th September, 1925.

No. 187.—Petition of A. S. Kinsman and 15 Others, of Douglas Settlement, Waihao Downs. Praying for an inquiry into the financial position of settlers in the Douglas Settlement, Waihao Downs, South Canterbury, with a view to revaluation of holdings. I have the honour to report that, while the Committee, after a close investigation of the position, is entirely in sympathy with the prayer of the petitioners, as a question of policy is involved the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th September, 1925.

Parliamentary Paper No. 174 C (Proposal to revoke the Reservation over an Approximate Area of 7 Acres, Portion of a Permanent State Forest situated in Block X, Pouatu Survey District.) I have the honour to report that the Committee recommends that the revocation of the reservation of the land mentioned in the above-mentioned parliamentary paper be approved. 30th September, 1925.

1.—5.

8

No. 28. —Petition of John Henry Brown, of Flaxmill. Praying for a further revaluation of his stock, and for other relief in connection with his holding at Flaxmill under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. I have the honour to report that the Committee recommends that, in accordance with the request of the member presenting the petition, leave be given for the petition to be withdrawn. 15th September, 1925.

No. 33. —Petition of Flora M. Commins, of Mareretu, North Auckland. Praying for compensation for loss sustained owing to Public Works Department taking a portion of her holding for railway purposes. I have the honour to report that the Committee recommends that, in accordance with the request of the member presenting the petition, leave be given for the petition to be withdrawn. 15th September, 1925.

No. 378/24.' —Petition of R. B. Neill, of Mount Somers. Praying for consideration with regard to term of his lease of Pastoral Run 115b, Mount Somers, Ashburton County. I have the honour to report that the Committee recommends that, in accordance with the request of petitioner, leave be given for the petition to be withdrawn. 15th September, 1925.

No. 124.—Petition of W. J. Steen, of Maramarua, Waikato County. Praying for legislation to enable the acquisition of the freehold of his holding in Maramarua Parish; Whangamarino Road District. I have the honour to report that, while the Committee is in sympathy with the prayer of the petitioner, as a question of policy is involved the Committee has no recommendation to make. 16th September, 1925.

No. 95.—Petition of Daniel B. Millward, of Taniwha, Waikato County. Praying for legislation to enable revaluation of his holding as a civilian in Taniwha Soldier Settlement. I have the honour to report that the Committee, while realizing the advisability of making provision 'by legislation to meet cases of this nature, also realizes the far-reaching effect which provision to meet this particular case would involve, and as the matter is a question of policy the Committee has no recommendation to make. 16th September, 1925.

No. 193. —Petition of Victoria University College Council, of Wellington. Praying for reimbursement of moneys lost owing to alleged negligent administration of certain lands by Commissioner of Crown Lands, and for inquiry as to whether some other system of administration should be adopted. I have the honour to report that, in accordance with the request of the representative of the petitioners, the Committee recommends that leave be given for the petition to be withdrawn. 16th September, 1925.

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 the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 16th September, 1925.

Reserves and othee Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill (Amendments proposed by His Excellency the Governor-General). I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has ca.refully considered the above-mentioned proposed amendments, and recommends that, in so far as the proposed new clauses are concerned, they be allowed to proceed without amendment. 24th September, 1925.

Hutt Valley Lands Settlement Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill attached. 24th September, 1925.

2—l. 5.

I—s

4

No. 24.—Petition of Timothy Moriarty, of Stillwater, Westland. Praying for compensation for loss incurred in connection with title to certain land in the Grey district. I have the honour to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 24th September, 1925. (Referred back to the Committee for further consideration.)

No. 13. —Petition of W. G. Gordon-Jones and 18 Others, of Punakitere. Praying that they be given the option of tenure of their holdings in endowment lands. I have the honour to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for inquiry, and, if all the parties interested are agreed, that provision be made to give effect to the prayer of the petitioners. 24th September, 1925.

No. 207.—Alfred Ward, of Christchurch. Praying for compensation for loss sustained through purchase of Crown land in Rolleston Survey District. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th September, 1925.

No. 89. —Petition of Rangi Tutu, of Tangoio. Praying for compensation for loss sustained in connection with forfeiture of his lease of Section IV, Block I, Moeangiangi Survey District. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 24 th September, 1925.

Nos. 61/23, Sess. 11, and 128/25. —Petition of Matthew Henry, of Ruakura Road, Hamilton. Praying that the matter of the sale to the Crown of the Ballachraggan Settlement, Waitoa, be referred to two Judges of the Supreme Court, or some independent tribunal. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 29th September, 1925.

Deteriorated Lands Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 29th September, 1925.

Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 29th September, 1925.

Ashley River Improvement Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 29th September, 1925.

Waihou Domain Board Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that, as the provisions of the Bill are provided for in the Public Reserves and Domains Bill, it be not allowed to proceed, 29th September, 1925.

5

1.—5

Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill (Further Amendments proposed by His Excellency the Governor-General). I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the above-mentioned proposed amendments, and recommends that, in so far as the proposed new clauses are concerned, they be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the proposed amendments attached. 29th September, 1925.

Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill (Further Amendments proposed by His Excellency the Governor-General). I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the above-mentioned proposed amendments, and recommends that, in so far as the proposed new clauses are concerned, they be allowed to proceed, with the amendments as shown on the copy of the proposed amendments attached. 29th September, 1925.

Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill (Further Amendments proposed by His Excellency the Governor-General). I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the above-mentioned proposed amendments, and recommends that they be allowed to proceed without amendment. 29th September, 1925.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that at the meeting of the Lands Committee held on Thursday, the 24th day of September, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : " That the Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the conspicuous ability, tact, and courtesy displayed by Mr. F. F. Hockly as Chairman of the Committee ; that this resolution be reported to the House." M. J. Savage, 30th September, 1925. Member of the Committee.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that at the meeting of the Lands Committee held on Tuesday, the 29th day of September, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : " That the Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the manner in which the Clerk of the Committee, Mr. H. W. Harris, has, for a number of years, carried out his duties ; that this resolution be reported to the House." 30th September, 1925.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee, consisting of ten members, has held ten meetings during the session, and that the average attendance of members at these meetings has been seven members per meeting. Including three held over from last session, the Committee had referred to it twenty-five petitions. Of these, fifteen were considered and reported upon, and ten are held over till next session. Thirteen Bills and one parliamentary paper were referred to the Committee, and all of these were considered and reported upon. 30th September, 1925.

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

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

Price 6d.]