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Waimairi County Electrical Supply and Christchurch City Empowering Bill The Local Bills Committee, to which the Waimairi County Electrical Supply and Christchurch City Empowering Bill was referred back for further consideration, has the honour to report that it has carefully reconsidered the same and taken additional evidence thereon, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with further amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 24th October, 1945.

Housing Improvement Bill The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the Housing Improvement Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and taken evidence thereon, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 25th October, 1945.

No. 59.—Petition of D. M. Robinson and 102 Others, of Auckland Praying for legislation providing for the payment of compensation to property-owners for damage or loss sustained through the operation of the Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Act, 1944. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 25th October, 1945.

Napier Harbour Board and Napier Borough Enabling Bill The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour tc report:— (1) That it is a local Bill. (2) That the Standing Orders have been complied with, except in the following respects, but were suspended in those respects by the House to enable the Bill to be introduced and proceeded with:— (a) Standing Order 361 was not complied with, in that notice of intention tc introduce the Bili was not published within the prescribed time; and (b) Standing Order 366 was not complied with in so far as it relates to the number of days from the commencement of the session within which local Bills may be introduced. (3) That the rights and prerogatives of the Crown are affected in the following respects:— (a,) Clause 6 exempts from stamp duties any transfers or leases of land from the Napier Harbour Board to the Corporation of the Borough of Napier and any agreements between the said Board and the said Corporation entered into pursuant to this Bill; (b) Clause 7 exempts from the provisions of the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act, 1943, any leases, sales, or transfers of land from the said Board to the said Corporation executed pursuant to this Bill; and (c) Certain lands included in the area affected by the Bill are held by the Crown under lease from the Napier Harbour' Board, and the Biil confers on the Napier Borough Council a right to take any leasehold interests in land in that area under the Public Works Act, 1928. (4) That the Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed, with amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill annexed hereto. 6th November, 1945.

No. 65.—Petition of the Automobile Association (Auckland), Incorporated, the Waitemata Harbour Bridge Association, Incorporated, and 12 Others Praying for the setting-up of a Select Committee of the House and/or a Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon the transport conditions across Auckland Harbour, with a view to effecting an improvement thereto. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration and that it be regarded as a matter ol extreme urgency. 7th November, 1945.

Local Legislation Bill The Local Bills Committee, to which was referred the Local Legislation Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same and taken evidence thereon, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment, 28th November, 1945. D. W. Coleman, Chairman.

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