I. —(SA.

1916. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF) ON PETITIONS OF JAMES McDOUGALL AND OTHERS, AND THIRTY SIMILAR PETITIONS AS PER SCHEDULE ATTACHED; WITH DEPARTMENTAL REPORT AND MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. (Mr. BUICK, Chairman.)

Report brought up 2nd August and, together with Petitions, Departmental Report, and Minutes of Evidence, ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 19th Day of May, 1916. Ordered, " That a 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 Mr. Bollard, Mr. Buick, Mr. J. S. Dickson, Mr. W. H. Field, the Hon. Mr. Myers, Mr. Sidoy, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Veitch, Mr. Witty, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Herries.) Tuesday, the 27th Day of June, 1916. Ordered, " That the petitions praying for official recognition of the New Zealand Railway Tradesmen's Association be referred direct to the Railways Committee."—(Mr. Wilford and others.) Wednesday the sth Day of July 1916. Ordered " That Standing Order 219 be suspended, and that the names of Mr. Mander and Mr. Smith be added to the Railways Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Herries.)

REPORT. No. 140. —Petition of James MoDougall, of Petone, and 57 Others (and thirty other petitions of a similar nature, schedule of which is attached). Praying for official recognition of the New Zealand Railway Tradesmen's Association. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make in regard to these petitions. 2nd August, 1916. D. Buick, Chairman. Schedule. No. 162.—MacLean, T. L., and 25 others. No. 177.—King, M. F., and 23 others. No. 163.—Alexander, H. V., and 5 others. No. 178.- Atkinson, W., and 43 others. No. 164.—O'Brien, J., and 41 others. No. 179.—Wilson, Frank, and 43 others. No. 165. —Couchman, F. W., and 45 others. No. 180. -Kirk, H. R., and 21 others. No. 166.—Harris, D. S. D., and 49 others. No. 181.—Melrose, W. J., and 21 others. No. 167. —Mitchell, R. J., and 55 others. No. 182.—Rennie, E. L., and 20 others. No. 168. —Stout, T. W., and 50 othors. No. 183.—Rowles, Denis, and 164 others. No. 169.—Sullivan, W., and 51 others. No. 184.—Williams, A., and 49 others. No. 170.—Ingram, S., and 49 othors. No. 185.—Croucher, F. G., and 3 others. No. 171.—Gay, A. V., and 27 othors. No. 186.—MoGill, Daniel, and 17 others. No. 172. —Cameron, W., and 30 othors. No. 187. —Kennedy, E. 8., and 8 others. No. 173. —Leek, A. W., and 24 others. No. 188. -Love, 8., and 32 others. No. 174.—Cuttle, W. J., and 52 others. No. 189.—McEvoy, W. L., and 44 6thers. No. 175. —Kilgour, J. N., and 13 others. No. 190. Williams, A. W. J., and 7 others. No. 176. —Newlands, J., and 44 others. No. 191. —Moffat, J., and 9 others.

I—l. 6A.