RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. J. T. HOGAN, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1931 Session I-II, I-06

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1931. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. J. T. HOGAN, Chairman.)

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

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 21st Day of July, 1931. 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 the Right Hon. Mr. Coates, Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Munns, Mr. J. A. Nash, Mr. W. Nash, the Hon. Mr. Tayerner, and the Mover."—(Hon. Mr. Veitch.) Tuesday, the 28th Day of July, 1931. Ordered, " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1930 be again referred to the same Committees as they were referred to during the said session, and that all petitions received during the first session of 1931 be dealt with as if they had been received this session."—(Right Hon. Mr. Forbes.) Tuesday, the 25th Day of August, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of D. W. Coleman and others be referred direct to the Railways Committee."— (Mr. Lysnar.) Wednesday, the 16th Day or Septembeb, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of Ella Emily Irwin be referred direct to the Railways Committee."— (Mr. Armstrong.) Tuesday, the 13th Day of October, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of H. F. C. Reid be referred direct to the Railways Committee."—(Mr. Parry.) Thursday, the 29th Day of October, 1931. Ordered, " That the Railways Committee have leave to sit during the present sitting of the House."— (Mr. Hogan.') Tuesday, the 3rd Day of November, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of J. W. M. Smith be referred direct to the Railways Committee."— (Mr. Wright.)

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INDEX.

REPORTS-

No. 12/31 (Sess. 1).—Petition of Fred Ellis, of Twenty-nine Street, Wanganui. Praying for a compassionate allowance in respect of the loss of arm through being struck by a railway apparatus. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration, with a recommendation that representations be made to the War Relief Association that assistance be granted to the petitioner to enable him to overcome his present difficulties. 27th August, 1931.

No. 35/31 (Sess. 2). —Petition of W. Hodge, of Christchurch. Praying for inquiry into alleged grievances. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th August, 1931.

No. 57/31 (Sess. 2). —Petition of Emily C. Braggins, of Pahiatua. Praying for a compassionate allowance owing to the death of her husband while in the employ of the Railway Department. I am directed to report that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 17th September, 1931.

No. 93/31 (Sess. 2). —Petition of P. E. Wright, of Cuba Street, Lower Hutt. Praying for compensation for alleged deterioration of property through construction of ramp over railway. I am directed to report that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 17t.h September, 1931.

No. 46/31 (Sess. 2). —Petition of Arthur Teale, of Christchurch. Praying for a compassionate allowance in respect of an accident while employed by tlie Railway Department. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 7th November, 1931.

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No. Petitioner, &c. \ Page. 157 Amalgamated Society of Railway Ser- 3 vants of New Zealand 57 Braggins, Emily C. .. .. 2 119 Coleman, D. W., and 8,399 others .. 3 12 Ellis, E. .. .. .. 2 (Sess. 1) Final report .. .. .. 4 35 Hodge, W... .. .. .. 2 156 Hodsen, W. E. .. .. .. 3 136 Irwin, Ella E. .. .. .. 3

No. ! Petitioner, &c. Page. 168 Landells, W. H. .. .. .. 3 177 New Zealand Locomotive, Engineers, 3 Firemen, and Cleaners' Association 182 New Zealand Railway (Tradesmen's 3 Association 187 Smith, J. W. M. .. .. .. 3 Special report (re Chairman) .. 4 Special report (re Clerk) .. .. 4 40 Teale, A. .. .. .. .. 2 93 Wright, P. E. .. .. .. 2

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No. 119/31 (Sess. 2).—Petition of D. W. Coleman, of Gisborne, and 8,399 Others. Praying that work on the Waikokopu-Gisborne Railway be resumed. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition be referred to the Government for consideration, with a view to investigating any offers of financial guarantees from the district. 7th November, 1931. 1

No. 156/31 (Sess. 2). —Petition of W. F. Hodsen, Camp 18, Waipapa Point, Marlborough. Praying that the construction of the South Island Main Trunk Railway be proceeded with. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 7th November, 1931.

No. 157 (Sess. 2). —Petition of the Amalgamated Society of Eailway Servants of New Zealand. Praying that amending legislation be introduced to enable members of the Eailway Service compulsorily retired to receive superannuation retiring-allowances without actuarial reductions. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 7th November, 1931.

No. 168/31 (Sess. 2). —Petition of W. H. Landells, of Christchurch. Praying that he be declared the true inventor of a certain buffer-plate punch. I have the honour to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 7th November, 1931.

No. 177 (Sess. 2). — Petition of the New Zealand Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association. Praying that amending legislation be introduced which will enable its members to obtain one-sixtieth of salary for each year of service. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 7th November, 1931.

No. 182 (Sess. 2). —Petition of the New Zealand Railway Tradesmen's Association. Praying that clause 14 of the Finance Act, 1931, be so amended that railway men compulsorily retired will be allotted a pension equal to one-sixtieth of their retiring salary for each year of service. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 7th November, 1931.

No. 187/31 (Sess. 2). —Petition of J. W. M. Smith, of Wellington. Praying for alteration in the method of computing his superannuation allowance. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 7th November, 1931.

No. 136/31 (Sess. 2). —Petition of Ella E. Irwin, of Christchurch. Praying for a compassionate allowance on account of the death of her husband in a railway accident near Christchurch. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 10th November, 1931.

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Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Committee desires to record its appreciation of the ability and courtesy displayed by the Chairman, Mr. J. T. Hogan, whose earlier experience in the Railway service has been of invaluable assistance to the Committee when considering the many technical matters brought before it, and the Committee further desires that this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the Committee, and be reported to the House. W. Nash, 7th November, 1931. Member of the Committee.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Railways Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the efficient services rendered by the Clerk of the Committee, Mr. R. A. Pringle ; and, further, desires that this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the Committee, and be reported to the House. 7th November, 1931.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Railways Committee, consisting of ten members, has during the session held five meetings, with an average attendance at each meeting of five members. Thirteen petitions were considered and reported upon. 7th November, 1931. J. T. Hogan, Chairman.

Approximate, Cost of Paper.—■ Preparation, not given; printing (370 copies), £3 17s. 6d.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l93l.

Price 3d.]

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