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No. 255. —Petition of E. F. Shadbolt, of Okauia, Matamata. Praying for an inquiry into the circumstances attending on his detention in Mount Eden Gaol in 1921 at the suit of Alexander McCutcheon. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration and inquiry. Ist February, 1922.

No. 355.— Petition of Henry W. Mayo, of Auckland. Praying for the rehearing of a certain charge made against him of using words indicating disloyalty. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist February, 1922.

No. 298. —Petition of Henry White, of Auckland. Praying for a compassionate allowance on retrenchment from the Public Service. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be, referred to the Government for consideration. Ist February, 1922.

No. 347, Petition of E. Herbert, of Ormondville, and 110 Others; and No. 354, Frances Burnett, of Rangiora, and 138 Others. Praying for the repeal of section 4 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1920. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee these petitions should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a view to depriving the guilty party of all right to initiate divorce proceedings under the said section. Ist February, 1922.

No. 359.—Petition of the Wanganui and Inland District Development League, of Wanganui. Praying for a publicly owned transport service on the Wanganui River between Taumarunui and Wanganui, or the empowering of the Wanganui River Trust to set up such a service. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the second prayer of this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. Ist February, 1922.

No. 348. — Petition of A. and W. McCarthy, of Dunedin. Praying for further compensation on account of automatic pistols handed to the police. I am directed to report that, petitioners not having exhausted their legal remedies, the Committee has no recommendation to make. Ist February, 1922.

No. 263.—Petition of E. F. Shadbolt, of Okauia, Matamata. Praying for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the circumstances of his arrest and detention in Mount Eden Gaol in 1921 at the suit of the Taumarunui Hospital Board. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. Ist February, 1922.

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