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No. 292.—Petition of M. O'Neill, of Te Wera. Praying for compensation for land taken by the Public Works Department, and for other damages. 1 am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration and further inquiry. 30th September, 1915. Debate on the question, "That the report do lie upon the table, and, together with the petition, bo referred to the Government for consideration and further inquiry," interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

No. 149.—Petition of F. A. Smith and Others, and 16 similar Petitions (as per Schedule attached). Praying for relief against alleged unfair competition by the National Provident Fund. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration, with a view to co-ordinating the work of the friendly societies and the National Provident Fund, both of which perform valuable services for the State, by granting such assistance to the friendly societies as will enable them to embrace a greater extent of the Dominion's social insurance functions; and that, to ensure this, a conference of the friendly societies with the Government be held at an early date, and that the evidence taken before the Committee be printed and circulated. (Vide Appendix 1.-2 a.) 4th October, 1915. Schedule. No. 152.— R. G. Barnes and 6 others. No. 347. —E. Greenland and 6 others. No. 197.— J. Gourdie and 3 others. No. 3(10.—W. C. Campbell and 3 others. No. 230.—A. V. Hope and 4 others. No. 361,—(J. A. Ahngren and 2 others No. 293.—C. R. Goldring and 8 others. No. 362 T. C. Keith and 7 others. No. 305. —D. R. Coopsr and 2 others. No. 365. —T. Lawrence and 4 others. No. 317.— J. Stevens and 5 others. No. 366.—J, Jepson and (i others. No. 322. —W. Hunter and 5 others. No. 373.— T. Norris and 10 others. No. 346.—A. Thompson, and 6 others. No. 403. —J. Smith and 4 others.

No. 170.—Petition of E. PINFOLD and Others, and 75 similar Petitions (as per Schedule attached). Praying that legislation be passed providing that hotel-bars be closed at 6 p.m. daily till the close of the present war. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee this being a matter of policy, the Committee has no recommendation to make, but considers the question of such importance at the present juncture that it is of opinion the Government should give the whole matter its early consideration. 4th October, 1915. Schedule, No. 160.— N. Battle and 146 others. No. 211.—A. A. Bensley anil 495 others. No. 161.— J. 11. Gow and 36 others. No. 212.— H. Money and 730 others. No. 171.— H. L. Pudney and 369 others. No. 213.—,1. Dickie and 1,586 others. No. 172.—Mary Logan and 99 others. No. 214.— J. W. Johnstone and 428 others. No. 173.—Harold Turner and 369 others. No. 215.—Edward Hill and 202 others. No. 174.—William Lee and 129 others. No. 216.—A. 15. Rowlands and 257 others. No. 175.—Arthur Little and 396 others. No. 217.— J. Turner and 132 others. No. 176.— J. Gilmour and 32 others. No. 218.— R. Robertson and 402 others. No. 177.—Sarah A. Moody and 102 others. No. 219.—.1. Aitoheson and 55 others. No. 178.— G. Hcrvey and' 369 others. No. 220.- ('. It. Thwaites and. 599 others. No. 179.—James Kirk and 809 others. No. 221.—Emily Akroyd anil 733 others. No. 180.—John Griffiths and 192 others. No. 222.— W. T. Todd and 95 others. No. 181.— T. Stinson and 2,507 others. No. 223.— E. A. Hammond and 90 others. No. 182.—8. F. Rothwell and 484 others. No. 242.— W. H. Tucker and 455 others. No. 183.—Joseph White and 1,41.7 others. No. 243.—George R. Davie and 401 others. No. 184.—Herbert Cole and 136 others. No. 244.—D. Blyth and 596 others. No. 185.— R. M. Lumsdcn and 307 others. No. 245.— J. T. Hinton and 1,698 others. No. 186.— H. 11. Miller and 738 others. No. 246.—L. K. Tarrant and 264 others. No. 187.—John Miller and 42 others. No. 248. —John Anderson and 788 others. No. 188.— W. Penrose and 1,621 others. No. 249.— E. X, Cameron and 527 others. No. 189.—Alfred W. North and 427 others. No. 261.— E. Kirkwood and 162 others. No. 190.—P. A. Haslam and 174 others. . No. 262.— F. M. Beattie and 127 others. No. 191. —A. Hardham and 1,667 others. No. 263.— R. 0. Douglas and 600 others. No. 192. —Eliza Painton and 156 others. No. 264.— R. Cooper and 90 others. No. 193.— J. E. Stephens and 888 others. No. 265.—M. Clark and 85 others. No. 198.—James Gibb and 571 others. No. 275.—M. Bramley and 108 others. No. 199.—L. Harrison and 204 others. No. 284.— J. Ward and 23 others. No. 200.— E. A. Batt and 1,209 others. No. 285.—Kate Newton and 30 others. No. 201.—Louisa Upton and 575 others. No. 286. —N. R. Mclsaac and 122 others. No. 202. —J. Cruickshank and 1,102 others. No. 291.—C. R. Swinbanks and 57 others. No. 203.—George Budd and 414 others. No. 295.— J. H. Andrew and 33 others. No. 204.— F. J. Gane and 550 others. No. 296.— J. Woodley and 0 others. No. 205. —W. Buttorick and 434 others. No. 303.—5. E. Lowis and 55 others. No. 206.— R. I). Sutherland and 1,000 others. No. 318.— E. F. Armstrong and 72 others. No. 207.— H. Nimmo and 712 others. No. 319.—5. W. Littlejohn and 99 others. No. 208.—A. E. Smith and 125 others. No. 333.—5. Mitchell and 18 others. No. 209. ■—R. M. Maunder and .1,869 others. No. 355.—5. Hickman and 37 others. No. 210. —The Bishop of Nelson and 670 others. Debate on the question, " That the report do lie upon the table," interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.