i—l. Ib.

I.—IB.

1913. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC PETITIONS A TO L COMMITTEE (REPORT OF), ON THE PETITIONS OF THOMAS HENRY JOHNSTON AND ELIZABETH JOHNSTON. (Mr. BRADNEY, Chairman.)

Report brought up 21st October, 1913, together with the Petitions and Minutes of Evidence, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 3rd Day of July, 1913. Ordered, "That a Committee be app>inted, consisting of ten membors, to consider all p3titions from A to L that may bo referred to it by thi Petitions Classification Committee, to classify and propire abstracts of such pjtitions in such form and manner as shall appjar to it bast suited to convoy to this Hjuse all requisite information reipjcting their contents, and to report tho same from time to time to this House, and to have power to report its opinions and observations thjreon to this House ; aim to havo pjwer to call for p srsons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Brown, Mr. Bradney, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Dickson, Mr. Estcott, Mr. Isitt, Mr. Malcolm, Mr. Payne Mr. Robertson, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. Fisher.) Wednesday, the 6th Day of August, 1913. Ordered, " That the name of Mr. Malcolm bo deleted from the list of members of the Public Petitions A to L Committee, and that the name of Mr. Webb be substituted in lieu thereof."—(Hon. Mr. Fisher.)

PETITIONS. No. 200 To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives of the Dominion of New Zealand in Parliament assembled. The petition of Thomas Henry Johnston, of Moresby Avenue, Waihi, humbly showeth, — 1. That I, your petitioner, was on the 14th December, 1912, unjustly and unlawfully committed to the Avondale Mental Hospital whilst being in a state of sanity. 2. That in my opinion my committal was cut and dried for the two medical men ana the two J.P.s who w T ere called in by the police, and was prearranged by the police. 3. Was detained from about 11.15 a.m. without being able to communicate with my wife. Neither was I allowed to proceed home under escort. Every time I asked the police to send for my wife they told me they had done so. My wife received no information as to my whereabouts until a little prior to my departure. 4. The two doctors and two J.P.s who were called in by the police, in my opinion—I consider the police poisoned their minds by concocted yarns, and also took good care to be present at the interview of Dr. Craig. 5. Was accused of things without a complaint being lodged, nor a written statement, nor a chance of a trial, which I demanded if they had aught against me 6. Dr. Craig was recognized to be the most excited and unbalanced man in Waihi during the day of the riot. 7. Dr. Galligan has admitted since the 14th December, 1912, that he was sorry for signing my oertifioate : (1) that he was led away by Dr. Craig; (2) that he was not altogether sober. 8. When Dr. Galligan was called in I refused to answer any questions except two, to both of which he replied " Quite correct."