GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. T. W. RHODES, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1926 Session I, I-04

1

1926. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. T. W. RHODES, 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 oe July, 1926. Ordered, " That a Goldfields and Mines Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to whom shall be referred all matters relating to mining and all Bills relating to mines ; with power to call for persons and papers; three to be a quorum: the Committee to consist of Mr. Bitchener, Mr. H. E. Holland, Mr. Horn, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Parry, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Samuel, Mr. Seddon, Mr. Waite, and the mover."—(Right Hon. Mr! Coates, for Hon. Mr. Anderson.) Wednesday, the 7th Day of July, 1926. Ordered, " That the Mining Bill be referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Anderson.) Wednesday, the 21st Day oe July, 1926. Ordered, " That the petition of Lily Willis be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."— (Mr. H. E. Holland.) Friday, the 27th Day oe August, 1926. Ordered, " That the petition of C. A. Macdonald and another be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee.". —(Mr. J. McC. Dickson.) Thursday, the 2nd Day or September, 1926. Ordered, " That the petition of William R. Leather be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Bollard.)

INDEX.

No. ! Subject-matter. Page. I . Bill. ! Mining .. .. .. .. ] 2 Paper. I Amended Regulations under Mining i 2 Act, 1908 Petitions. 54 | Berryman, Mary A... .. .. ] 2 259/25 | Johnson, John T .. .. ..2,3 276 Leather, William R. .. .. 2 269 Macdonald, Charles A., and another .. 3

No. Subject-matter. . Page. Petitions —continued. 10 | Murphy, Sarah .. .. .. I 2 69 I Willis, Lily .. .. .. | 2 Reports. Special, re services of Chairman .. 3 Special, re services of Clerk .. .. 3 Special, re petition of John T. Johnson (2) 3 Special, re petition of C. A. Macdonald 3 and another (2) Final Report .. .. .. 3 I

1.—4

REPORTS. No. 10. —Petition of Sarah Murphy, of Auckland. Praying, as the widow of a miner's-phthisis pensioner, for a compassionate allowance in lieu of a widow's pension, which because of a technicality she is debarred from enjoying under the Miner's Phthisis Act, 1915. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 28th July, 1926.

No. 54. — Petition of Mary Ann Berryman, of Auckland. Praying for a compassionate allowance in lieu of a widow's pension, which because of a technicality she is debarred from enjoying under the Miner's Phthisis Act, 1915. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 28th July, 1926.

No. 69.—Petition of Lily Willis, of Waiuta. Praying, as the widow of a miner's-phthisis pensioner, for a compassionate allowance in lieu of a widow's pension under the Miner's Phthisis Act, 1915, which because of a technicality she is debarred from enjoying. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 28th July, 1926.

Mining Bill. I am directed to report that the Goldfields and Mines Committee, to which was referred the abovementioned Bill, has heard evidence on and carefully considered the provisions of the Bill, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with amendments as shown on copy of Bill attached hereto. Minutes of evidence taken attached hereto. 11th August, 1926.

No. 259/25. —Petition of John T. Johnson, of Waipori. Praying for an amendment of the Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Act, 1924, in respect of certain mining privileges. I am directed to report that at a meeting of the Goldfields and Mines Committee held on Tuesday, the 10th August, 1926, the following resolution was agreed to, namely : That the Committee, having heard evidence on the subject-matter of the petition of John T. Johnson, of Waipori, is of the opinion that a sub-committee, consisting of Mr. T. W. Rhodes, M.P. (Chairman), Mr. W. E. Parry, M.P., Mr. J. Horn, M.P., and Mr. J. Bitchener, M.P., should visit the locality with a view to ascertaining further evidence on the matters in issue ; and that in the meantime deliberation on the petition should be deferred by the Committee. 11th August, 1926.

Pabliamentaey Papers Nos. 59, 60, 61, 62, and 78.—Amended Regulations undeb the Mining Act, 1908. I have the honour to report that the Goldfields and Mines Committee, to which was referred the abovementioned parliamentary papers, has carefully considered and approved of the same. 3rd September, 1926.

No. 276.—Petition of William Robert Leathee, of Huntly. Praying that he, as the original prospector in the Parish of Pepepe, Raglan County, be granted priority of the mining rights of Lake Waahi, situate in the parish aforesaid. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 6th September, 1926.

2

1.—4

No. 269.—Petition of Charles Alexander Macdonald and another, of Waipori. Praying that the Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Act, 1924, be so amended that the petitioners may have a right to recover compensation from the Dunedin City Corporation in respect of loss sustained arising out of the operation of the said Act. I am directed to report that at a meeting of the Goldfields and Mines Committee held on Monday, 6th September, 1926, the following resolution was agreed to, namely : That the Committee, having heard evidence on the subject-matter of the petition of Charles Alexander Macdonald and another, is of the opinion that this matter should be further investigated by the sub-committee which intends visiting Waipori in connection with the petition of John T. Johnson; and that in the meantime deliberation on the petition should be deferred by the Committee. 6th September, 1926. I

No. 259/25, Petition of John T. Johnson, and No. 269, Petition of Charles Alexander Maodonald and another, of Waipori. I am directed to report that at a meeting of the Goldfields and Mines Committee held on Mondayt 6th September, 1926, the following resolution was agreed to, namely : That the name of Mr. F. Waite, M.P., be added to sub-committee appointed to inquire into the subject-matter of the petitions of John T. Johnson and Charles A. Macdonald and another, of Waipori 6th September, 1926.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Goldfields and Mines Committee desires to place on record its cordial appreciation of the able and dutiful manner in which Mr. George C. Black, as Clerk of the Committee, has during the session performed his duties; and the Committee further desires that this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the Committee, and also that it be reported to the House. Bth September, 1926.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the members of the Goldfields and Mines Committee desire to record their sincere appreciation of the ability and urbanity during the session displayed by Mr. T. W. Rhodes, as Chairman, in the conduct of the business of the Committee, and in facilitating the harmonious progress of their deliberations ; and, further, that the members of the Committee desire that this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the Committee, and also that it be reported to the House. W. E. Parry, 9th September, 1926. Member of the Committee.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Goldfields and Mines Committee, consisting of ten members, has during the session held ten meetings, with an average attendance at each meeting of six members. One Bill—-namely, the Mining Bill—and five parliamentary papers—Amended Regulations under the Mining Act, 1908 —were referred to the Committee, and the same were carefully considered and reported upon to the House. Six petitions were also referred to the Committee, four of which were finally dealt with and reported upon to the House. Special reports were made to the House in respect of two petitions praying for the amendment of The Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Act, 1924 : these petitions will be deliberated upon next session. Bth September, 1926.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (625 copies), £3 15s.

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

Price 3d.}

3