RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. BOLLARD, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1919 Session I, I-06

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1919. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. BOLLARD, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to he printed.

ORDERS OK REFERENCE. Extracts from, the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 3ko Day of Septum kick, 1919. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to examine and report upon questions relating to railways; with power to call for persons and papers j three to be a quorum: the Committee to consist of Mr. Bollard, Mr. J. S. Dickson, the Hon. Mr. Myers, Mr. Nash, Mr. Sidey, Mr. S. G. Smith, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Veiteh, Mr. Witty, and the mover."—(Right Hon. Mr. Massky.) Wednesday, the 10th Day of September, 1919. Ordered, " That the name of the Hon. Mr. Herries be added to the Railways Committee." —(Right Hon. Mr. MASSEY.) Thursday, the 25th Day of September, 1919. Ordered, "That all petitions not finally dealt with during the sessions of 1918 be again referred to the same Committees as they were referred to during the said sessions."—(Right Hon. Mr. Massey.)

INDEX.

No, 8 II Petitioner. Page. Amalgamated Sooiety of Railway I 4 Servants (re petition of A. N. Longton) Amalgamated Sooiety of Railway ! 3 I Servants (re superannuation) No. Petitioner. 326 Hallev, George 323 Harrison, J. W. 253/16 | Hocking, W. 0. S. 29/Sess. 11/18 Hodge, W. .. 8/Sess. 1/19 Huggins, W., and 116 others .. Page. 3 4 2 2 2 12 38 77 488/17 105/18 266 324 261 Barnard. A. M. .. .. : 2 Butler', H. E., ami 6,044 others .. | 2 Carter, A. .. .. 2 Dunk, O, and others .. .. 3 Executive Council, New Zealand 3 Locomotive Engine - drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association Gage, Thomas, and 298 others .. ! 4 Gibb, S. B. . . .. .. 3 Government Railways Amendment 3 Bill Ounn, Hugh .. . . .. 3 322 Lopdell, F. J., and others (il Martin, C. P. .. 287 Overton, Hilda 98/17 Parsons, R. J., and 49 others .. 243 Pearson, Dinah 265 Potts, R., and 52 others 229 Simpson, .1. .. 50 Slight, ,L, and 24 others Special report (re Chairman) 328 Taranaki Farmers' Meat Company 294 Thomas, George GO Williams, 0. A. 4 •2 4 2 2 4 3 2 4 4 4 2

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BEPOETB.

No. 98 (1917).—Petition of R. J. Parsons and 49 Others. Praying for compensation for loss of crops, &c., destroyed by lire alleged to have been caused by sparks from a railway locomotive. J am directed to report thai the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 11th September, 1919.

No. 8 (Sens. 1, 1918).—Petition of W. IJuggins and 116 Others, of Waikumete. Praying for abatement of the unsatisfactory conditions which are existent at present on the Auckland North suburban railway service. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to Ihe Government for consideration. 11th September, 1919.

No. 38.—Petition of 11. E. Butler and 6,944 Others, of Newmarket. Praying for the stoppage of the incoming .Main Trunk train at Newmarket. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 18th September, 1919.

Nos. 60 and 61.—Petitions of Caroline A. Williams and Caroline P. Martin, of Auckland. Praying that they be granted additional compassionate allowances for loss of husbands who lost their lives in the Mataroa railway accident. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion these petitions should be referred to the Public Petitions M to Z Committee. 26th September, 1919.

No. 50, —Petition of J. Slight and 24 Others, of Dunedin. Praying for additional superannuation allowance owing to the high, cost of living. I am directed to report that, as this is a question of policy, the Committee has no recommendat ion to make. 26th September, 1919.

No. 12, Petition of A. M. Barnard, of Hawera; No. 77, Petition of A. Carter, of Bull's. Praying for compassionate allowance for injuries'received in. the Mataroa railway accident. 1 am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion these petitions should he referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 6th October, 191!).

No. 253 (1916).—Petition of W. G. S. Hooking, of Christchurch. Praying for a compassionate allowance for injuries sustained in an accident whilst in the employ of the Railway Department. I. am directed to rejiort that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 6th October, 1919.

No. 29 (Sess. 11, 1918).—Petition of W. Hodge, of Christchurch. Praying that he be empowered to bring an action against the Railway Department in open Court. I am directed to report thai (lie Committee has no recommendation to make. 17th October, 1919.

No. 243. —Petition of Dinah Pearson, of Otahuhu. Praying for additional compassionate allowance for injuries received in a railway accident at Otahuhu Station. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 17th October, 1919.

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No. 261.—Petition of Hugh Gunn, of New Plymouth. Praying for compensation for alleged infringement of his spark-arresting appliance by the Railway Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 17th October, 1919.

No. 229.—Petition of J, Simpson, of Swanson. Praying for compensation for loss sustained by fire alleged to have been caused by sparks from railway-engine, T am directed to report thai the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 17th October, 1919.

No. 488 (1917). -Petition of C. Dunk and Others, of Palmerston North. Praying that Cook Street, Palmerston North, be not closed by the Railway Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 17th October, 1919.

No. 105 (1918). —Petition of the Executive Council of the New Zealand Locomotive Enginedrivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association, Praying for an increase of wages and improved conditions for members of the above association employed on the New Zealand railways. I am directed to report that, as the subject-matter of the petition has been dealt with in the Government Railways Amendment Bill since the presentation of the petition, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th October, 1919.

Government Railways Amendment Bill. The Railways Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed with amendments as shown on copy of the Bill attached hereto. The Committee further recommends the Government forthwith to set up a Board consisting of — (1.) (a.) The Judge of the Arbitration Court (or other Judge of the Supreme Court), who shall be the Chairman ; (b.) A representative of the Government; (c.) A representative appointed on the nomination of the Railway Officers' Institute; (d.) A representative appointed on the nomination of the Amalagamated Society of Railway Servants; and (c.) A representative appointed on the nomination of the Locomotive Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association. (2.) The nominated members referred to in (c), (d), and (c) above to act as members of the Board only in respect of such matters as relate to their respective branches of the Railway service. (3.) The duty of the Board shall be to consider and report upon such questions affecting the wages and working-conditions of members of the Railway service as may be referred to it by the Minister of Railways. 29th October, 1919.

No. 11.—Petition of the Amalgamated Society or Railway Servants of New Zealand, Wellington. Praying for an alteration of the policy of the Government Railways Department in respect to superannuation. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. lib November, 1919.

No. 326.--Petition of G. Halley, of New Brighton. Praying for compassionate allowance for services rendered to the Railway Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 4th November, 1919.

No. 324. —Petition of S. B. Gibb, of Motunau, North Canterbury. Praying for compensation for loss sustained through fire caused by sparks from railway-engine. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 4th November, 1919,

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No. 323.—Petition of J. W. Harrison, of Greta Valley. Praying for compensation for loss sustained through fire caused by sparks from railway-engine. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 4th November, 1919.

No. 266.—Petition of Thomas Gage, of Kaitangata, and 298 Others. Praying for acquisition by I he Government of the Kaitangata and Taratu Railways. I am directed to reporl that, as this is a question of policy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 4th November, 1919.

No. 265.—Petition of R. Potts, of Kumeu, and 52 Others. Praying for improved railway facilities on Kaipara line. 1 am directed to report thai the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 4th November, 1919.

No. 328.—Petition of the Taranaki Farmers' Meat Company, of New Plymouth. Praying for refund of money paid by the company in respect to the railway-siding at Smart Road. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 4th November, 1919.

No. 8. —Petition of the Amalgamated Society op Railway Servants op New Zealand, Wellington. Praying tfiat the circumstances in connection with the appeal of A. N. Longton be reviewed; also the question of abolishing the Minister's power of veto. I. am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 4th November, 1919.

No. 287.—Petition of Hilda M. Overton, of Christchurch. Praying for compensation for loss sustained through fire caused by sparks from railway-engine. 1 am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 4th November, 1911).

No. 294,—Petition of G. Thomas, of Levin. Praying for a compassionate allowance for loss of son killed in railway accident at Terrace End, Palmerston North. 1 am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 4th November, 1919.

No. 322.—Petition of F. J. Lopdell and 15 Others, of Eskdale. Praying for a new site for railway-station near Eskdale. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this petition should be referred to tin' Government for consideration, and further recommends that the Government hold an inquiry into the matter. 4th November, 1919.

Special Report. I am directed to report that the Committee places on record its high appreciation of the services of the Chairman (Mr. Bollard), and its recognition of the able and impartial manner in which he carried on the business of the Committee. T. K. Sidey, 4th November. 191.9. Member of the Committee.

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