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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1926 Session I, I-01

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1926. NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC PETITIONS A TO L COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. BITCHENER, 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 30th Day of June, 1926. Ordered, " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1925 be again referred to the same Committees as they were referred to during the said session." —(Right Hon. Mr. Coates.) Thursday, the Ist Day of July, 1926. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all petitions from A to L that may be referred to it by the Petitions Classification Committee ; to classify and prepare abstracts of suoh 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. Bitchener, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Eliott, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Harris, Mr. McKeen, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Veiteh, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Wright.) Monday, the 23rd Day of August, 1926. Ordered, " That the petition of J. H. Hannan be referred direct to the Public Petitions A to L Committee."— (Mr. J. S. Dickson.) Wednesday, the Ist Day of September, 1926. Ordered, " That the petition of I. M. Curin be referred direct to the Public Petitions A to L Committee."— (Mr. Rhodes.) Friday, the 3rd Day of September, 1926. Ordered, " That the Gaming Amendment Bill be referred to the Public Petitions A to L Committee."— (Sir George Hunter.) Monday, the 6th Day of September, 1926. Ordered, " That the petition of G. E. Blee and others be referred direct to the Public Petitions A to L Committee." —(Mr. J. S. Dickson.)

INDEX.

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No. Petitioner, &e. j Page. J 7 Anderson, Grimsdale, and 4 L others .. 2 261/24 Andrew, J. B., and 1,068 others .. 3 12 Brown, Gordon Leigh .. .. 3 3/25 Brown, Ralph J. D. .. .. 1 2 14 Campbell, Emily E. J. .. .. J 2 100 Clark, Jane Sarah .. .. .. | 4 71 Cochran, Thomas, and 168 others .. 5 391/22 Cooper, Marian .. .. .. 2 256 Coutts, John L. .. .. .. 5 5 Crichton, James .. .. .. 4 87 Crowle, Eliza .. .. .. 3 273 Curin, Ivan Matin .. .. .. 5 32 Dalziell, Frederick George .. .. 2 28 Dearsley, William L. M. .. .. 3 274 Dowse, Gladys Martha .. .. 5 64 Doyle, Mary .. .. .. 4 256/25 Duncan, Thomas Charles .. ... 3 25 Edmonds, James George .. .. 3 40 Elder, John .. .. .. I 3 11 Elliott, William James .. .. i 2 52 Esther, Robert Thompson .. .. j 3

jj No. j Petitioner, (fee. ' Page. I j Final report .. .. .. 6 5/25 | Foote, Gladys Pearl .. .. 2 153 j Forrest, William .. .. .. 4 236 Forster, John D. .. .. 5 77 Fryday, N. B. .. .. .. 3 253 Fryday, N. B., and 23 others .. 5 90 Geeson, H., and 17 others .. .. 4 250 Gordon, William Francis .. .. 5 260 Hannan, John Henry .. .. 5 180/25 Hendrickson, Sarah Elsie .. .. 2 220 Hill, Henry Ewart .. .. .. 4 263 Juriss, Maximilian .. .. .. 4 56 King, Alice Beatrice .. .. 4 22 Kiore Sheep-farming Company (Limited) 3 420/24 Latwer, Robert .. .. .. 2 239 Loveridge, Ernest .. .. .. 4 Special report (re Chairman).. .. 5 Special Report (re Clerk) .. .. 6

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EE PORTB. No. 391/22. —Petition of Marian Cooper, of Wellington. Praying for reinstatement in the Public Service, with full superannuation rights. I am directed to report the Committee is of opinion that, at the request of petitioner, leave be granted to withdraw this petition.

21st July, 1926. —-— No. 3/25. —Petition of Ralph J. D. Brown, of Whakatane. Praying for remission of arrears of land-tax on a property at Waimana sold by him, the purchaser of which became bankrupt. I am directed to report the Committee is of opinion that, at the request of petitioner, leave be granted to withdraw this petition. 21st July, 1926. —

No. 7. —Petition of Grimsdale Anderson and 41 Others, of Mahau, Pelorus Sound. Praying that a compassionate allowance be granted to Mr. A. D. Wilson for services rendered as an officer of the Survey Department. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 21st July, 1926.

No. 11. —Petition of William James Elliott, of Auckland. Praying for a compassionate allowance on account of money fraudulently taken 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. 21st July, 1926.

No. 420/24. —Petition of Robert Latwek, of Samoa. Praying for compensation for alleged wrongful imprisonment and also monetary loss sustained. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 30th July, 1926.

No. 180/25. —Petition of Sarah Elsie Hendrickson, of Te Rore, Auckland. Praying for compassionate allowance for loss of husband. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government,, with the following recommendations : (a) That power be given to the Te Awamutu Electric-power Board to pay petitioner a further amount by way of compassionate allowance; (6) that, if necessary, legislation be introduced validating such further payment by the Power Board; (c) that Power Boards should take out accident-insurance cover to meet cases of this nature. 30th July, 1926.

No. 32. —Petition of Frederick George Dalziell, of Wellington. Praying that an authoritative tribunal be set up to investigate the subject-matter of the petition. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 30th July, 1926.

No. 5/25. —Petition of Gladys Pearl Foote, of Wellington. Praying for compassionate allowance for the loss of her husband, who was accidentally killed at Featherston Military Camp in 1916. I am directed to report the Committee is of opinion that, at the request of petitioner, leave be granted to withdraw this petition.

11th August, 1926. No. 14. —Petition of Emily Eliza Jane Campbell, of Coromandel. Praying that vehicular access be restored to her land. I am directed to report that the Committee recommend this petition to the Government for favourable consideration, the Committee being of opinion that petitioner is entitled to access to her property, and that the cost of the necessary alteration should be borne by the Government and the Coromandel County Council provided such cost is reasonable, 11th August, 1926.

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No. 22.—Petition of Kiore Sheep-farming Company (Limited), of Gisborne. Praying for refund of additional land-tax accrued through an oversight of an official of the said company. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 11th August, 1926.

No. 28. —Petition of William L. M. Dearsley, of Christchurch. Praying for relief from absentee-tax imposed. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 11th August, 1926.

No. 52.—Petition of Robert Thompson Esther, of Hawke's Bay. Praying that he may receive the benefits of the National Provident Eund. I am directed to report that the Committee feels there are special circumstances in connection with this case which warrant careful investigation by the Government, and therefore recommends this petition to the Government for favourable consideration. 11th August, 1926.

No. 87.—Petition of Eliza Crowle, of Waihi. Praying for payment of old-age pension at an earlier date than at present permitted. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration, and the Committee expresses the hope that the Government's negotiations now in progress will result in the early adoption of a reciprocal pension scheme with Australia. 11th August, 1926.

No. 256/25. —Petition of Thomas Charles Duncan, of Auckland. Praying that some suitable clerical employment may be found for him. I am directed to report that, in view of the hardship of the petitioner's case, the Committee recommends that an endeavour be made to find him suitable employment in the Public Service, and in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 13th August, 1926.

No. 12.—Petition of Gordon Leigh Brown, of Christchurch. Praying for return of overcharged rates. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 13th August, 1926.

No. 25. —Petition of James George Edmonds, of Auckland. Praying for removal of a building from the boundary of his property, or the revaluation of his property. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 13th August, 1926.

No. 40. —-Petition of John Elder, of Waipapa. Praying for compensation for loss caused by alleged unjust prosecutions. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 13th August, 1926.

No. 77.—Petition of N. B. Fryday, of Ngaere. Praying for legislation exempting his property from the Tariki Power Board's rating-area. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 13th August, 1926.

No. 261/24. —Petition of J. B. Andrew and 1,068 Others, of Hawke's Bay. Praying for an inquiry into the administration of the Napier Harbour Board. I am directed to report that, as the subject-matter of this petition has been dealt with and reported on by the Local Bills Committee, this Committee has no recommendation to makfc.. 26th August, 1926.

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No. s.—Petition of James Crichton, of Wanganui. Praying for inquiry and compensation owing to loss on investments through administration by the Public Trust Office. I am directed to report that this Committee has exhaustively investigated the petitioner's charges against the Public Trustee, and completely exonerates the Public Trust Office. The Committee therefore has no recommendation to make. 26th August, 1926.

No. 56. —Petition of Alice Beatrice King, of Auckland. Praying for remission of remainder of sentence inflicted upon Frederick E. P. Shortland. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 26th August, 1926.

No. 64.—Petition of Mary Doyle, of Greymouth. Praying for compensation for alleged injuries received while employed as mental-hospital nurse. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 26th August, 1926.

No. 100.—Petition of Jane Sarah Clark, of Petone. Praying for compassionate allowance on account of loss of her husband by drowning in Hutt River. 1 am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for sympathetic consideration. 26th August, 1926.

No. 153. —Petition of William Forrest, of Auckland. Praying for compensation for loss incurred on the Okahukura Tunnel contract. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 26th August, 1926.

No. 90.—Petition of H. Geeson and 17 Others, of Cheviot. Praying that racing clubs desirous of taking advantage of section 3 of the Gaming Amendment Act, 1924, be not restrained by the New Zealand Racing Conference. I am directed to report that the Cheviot Racing Club has been prevented from exercising the right conferred on it by section 3 of the Gaming Amendment Act, 1924, to change its constitution to trotting, by the presidents of the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conferences respectively, who have entered into an agreement not to agree to any change from racing to trotting without a corresponding change from trotting to racing. The Committee endorses the action already taken by the Government in this matter, and is strongly of opinion that the Government should exercise all its powers to give effect to the Cheviot Racing Club's petition, and, if necessary, to the extent of withholding the issue of totalizator licenses until the relief sought is granted. In the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. Ist September, 1926.

No. 220. —Petition of Henry Ewart Hill, of Gisborne. Praying for refund of money paid out while Registrar of Births, &c., at Gisborne. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. Ist September, 1926.

No. 239.—Petition of Ernest Loveridge, of Thorpe. Praying for refund of stamp duty. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist September, 1926.

No. 263.—Petition of Maximilian Juriss, of Wellington. Praying for investigation of a conviction against him. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. Ist September, 1926.

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No. 236.—Petition of John D. Forster, of Christchurch. Praying for compassionate allowance on account of injuries received. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 3rd September, 1926.

No. 250. —Petition of William Francis Gordon, of New Plymouth. Praying for compensation for alleged unfair treatment in the matter of extended leave from the Public Service, and loss of half-pay. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 3rd September, 1926.

No. 260.—Petition of John Henry Hannan, of Auckland. Praying for relief from conditions imposed on landlords by the rent-restriction legislation. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee a matter of policy is involved, and therefore it has no recommendation to make. 3rd September, 1926.

No. 273. —Petition of Ivan Matin Curin, of Thames. Fraying that he may be granted a retail wine license at Hamilton. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 3rd September, 1926.

No. 71. —Petition of Thomas Cochran and 168 Others, of Southland. Praying for relief regarding the rating and reticulating system adopted by the Southland Electricpower Board. I am directed to report that, as a matter of policy is involved, the Committee has no recommendation to make. Bth September, 1926. ——

No. 253. —Petition of N. B. Fryday and 23 Others, of Taranaki. Praying for compensation and investigation in connection with the work of the Taranaki Power Board. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration ; and the Committee would strongly recommend that the Public Works Department make full investigation into the subject-matter of the petition, regarding the operations of the Taranaki Power Board. Bth September, 1926.

No. 256.—Petition of John L. Coutts, of Wellington. Praying for compensation for time and monetary loss incurred in manning a steamer during the seamen's strike. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. Bth September, 1926.

No. 274.—Petition of Gladys Martha Dowse, of Wellington. Praying that section 22 of the Infants Act, 1908,. be amended so that her child Elvira Frederickson (adopted by Charles and Lucy R. A. Bethell) be returned to her. I am directed to report that, the child Elvira Frederickson having been legally adopted, the Committee has no recommendation to make. Bth September, 1926.

Special Report. The Committee desires to record its high appreciation of the tact and consideration shown to members and petitioners by its Chairman (Mr. Bitchener) during the session, and it is the unanimous wish of the Committee that this resolution should be recorded in the minutes and be reported to the House. Bth September, 1926. Gordon Eliott, Member of the Committee.

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Special Report. The A to L Petitions Committee desires to express its great appreciation of the ability and courtesy with which Mr. J. McLean has carried out his various duties during the session ; and it also desires that this resolution shall be recorded in the minutes of the Committee and reported to the House. 9th September, 1926.

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-eight petitions were referred to the Committee, and thirty-six petitions were dealt with, as under : — Referred to the Government for favourable consideration .. .. 12 Referred to the Government for sympathetic consideration .. .. .. 1 Referred to the Government for consideration . . . . . . 4 Referred to the Government .. .. .. .. .. 1 Petitions on which Committee made no recommendation .. . . 15 Petitions withdrawn .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 36 Held over until next session .. .. .. 2 38 Bth September, 1926.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (525 copies), £7 15s.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 926.

Price 6d.\

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