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REPORTS.

No. 23/1937. —Petition of R. F. Batchelor and 387 Others, of Otago. Praying that amalgamation proposals affecting the Borough of Lawrence be not proceeded with, pending a referendum being taken of the electors concerned. I have the honour to report that the member presenting the petition having requested permission to withdraw it, the Committee recommends that he be allowed to do so. 29th July, 1941.

No. 34/1937.—Petition of A. M. McKinlay and 1,017 Others, of the Counties of Clutha, Tuapeka, and Bruce. Praying that amalgamation proposals affecting the counties of Bruce, Clutha, and Tuapeka be not proceeded with, pending a referendum being taken of the ratepayers concerned. I have the honour to report that the members presenting the petition having requested permission to withdraw it, the Committee recommend that they'be allowed to do so. 29th July, 1941.

No. 79/1937.—Petition of W. Moore and 572 Others, of the Counties of Clutha, Tuapeka, and Bruce. Praying that amalgamation proposals affecting the counties of Bruce, Tuapeka, and Clutha be not proceeded with, pending a referendum being taken of the ratepayers concerned. I have the honour to report that the member presenting the petition having requested permission to withdraw it, the Committee recommends that he be allowed to do so. 29th July, 1941.

No. 96/1937. —Petition of R. Brown and 657 Others, of the Counties of Clutha, Tuapeka, and Bruce. Praying that amalgamation proposals affecting the counties of Bruce, Clutha, and Tuapeka be not proceeded with, pending a referendum being taken of the ratepayers concerned. I have the honour to report that the member presenting the petition having requested permission to withdraw it, the Committee recommends that he be allowed to do so. 29th July, 1941.

No. 1/1940. —Petition of T. W. Hercock: and 26 Others. No. 7/1940. —Petition of F. Eagle and 29 Others. No. 8/1940. —Petition of E. Gilmore and 116 Others. No. 11/1940. —Petition of J. C. Burns and 79 Others. No. 15/1940. —Petition of J. Guiniven and 8 Others. No. 16/1940. —- Petition of J. W. Andrews and 33 Others. No. 17/1940. —Petition of P. Thomson and 111 Others. No. 18/1940. —Petition of R. J. Mills and 54 Others. No. 19/1940. —Petition of G. L. Page and 310 Others. Praying that New Zealand offer hospitality to twenty-five thousand British children as soon as possible. I have the honour to report that the New Zealand Government some time ago offered hospitality to such number of British children as can conveniently be sent from Great Britain and accommodated in New Zealand. Some children had already arrived here and been placed in private homes when the British Government announced that it would have to postpone the scheme for the time being, on account of shipping difficulties. In view of the British Government's changed policy with regard to this matter, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th July, 1941.

No. 37/1940. —Petition of G. T. George and 3 Others, of Napier. Praying that an immediate investigation be made into the affairs of the New Zealand Underwriting and Development Corporation, Ltd. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petitioners have not exhausted all their legal remedies ; therefore, this Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th July, 1941.

No. 89/1940. —Petition of T. W. Hercock and 3 Others, of Napier. Praying for exemption from taxation levied on compensation paid by the Crown." I have the honour to report that the member presenting the petition having requested permission to withdraw it, the Committee recommends that he be allowed to do so. 29th July, 1941. A. S. Richards, for Chairman.

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