LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. E. NEWMAN, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1920 Session I, I-05

1920. NEW ZEALAND.

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LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. E. NEWMAN, Chairman.)

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

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 14th Day of July, 1920. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 219 be suspended, and that a Select Committee bo appointed, consisting of twelve members, to whom shall stand referred after the first reading all Bills affecting or in any way relating to the lands of the Crown, or education or other public reserves ; the Committee to have power to make such amendments therein as they think proper, and to report generally when necessary upon the principles and provisions of the Bill ; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Forbes, Mr. Glenn, Mr. J. R. Hamilton, Mr. Hockly, Mr. Jones, Hon. Mr. Mac Donald, Mr. E. Newman, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Savage, Mr. R. W. Smith, Mr. Witty, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Guthrie.) Tuesday, the 20th Day of July, 1920. Ordered, " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1919 be again referred to the same Committees as they were referred to during the said session."—(Right Hon. Mr. Massey.) Tuesday, the 10th Day of August, 1920. Ordered, " That the Te Aroha Crown Leases Pill be referred to the Lands Committee." —(Hon. Mr. Guthrie.) Wednesday, the 25th Day of August, 1920. Ordered, " That the petitions of EL Jackson and others, and the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Te Aroha, be referred direct to the Lands Committee."—(Hon. Sir W. H. Herries.) Wednesday, the 25th Day of August, 1920. Ordered, " That leave be granted the Lands Committee to sit this afternoon during the sitting of the House."— (Mr. E. Newman.) Wis on usd ay, the oth Day of October, 1920. Ordered, "That tho petition of W. T. Williams and others be referred direct to the Lands Committee."— (Mr. Hockly.) Thursday, the 14th Day of October, 1920. Onlcri'tl, "That the petition of J. J. Jackson be referred direct to the Lands Committee." —(Mr. Hockly.) Thursday, the 21st Day of Octoher, 1920. Ordered, " That the petition of E. J. Darby and others be referred direct to the Lands Committee." —.(Mr. Hockly.) Wednesday, the 27th Day of Octobkr, 1920. Ordered, "That the petition of Ada M. Shadbolt be referred direct to the Lands Committee."—(Mr. R. W. Smith.) Tuesday, the 2nd Day of November, 1920. Ordered, " That the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill bo referred to the Lands Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Guthrie.)

INDEX.

So. Petitioner, Ac. Page. Akarana and Waitemata Counties Bill . . 2 Bay of Islands Harbour Bill 3 354 201 Darby, E. J., and 28 others Dennehy, W.J. Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Bill 4 !! 142 87 Final report Francis, J., and 77 others Fuller, Walter 4 2 4 143 Geddes, R. L., and another Gisborne Harbour Board Amendment Bill 2 3 65 305 111* Henry, Matthew Hillman, Agnes H, and 11 others Hyde, J. H., and 18 others 3 4 3 224 Jackson, H., and 331 others 2 Land Laws Amendment Bill - 3 223 MacDonald, Hon. W. D. S. (special report) Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Te Aroha 2 2

No. Petitioner, Ac. Page. 189 244 Mitchell, C. T. Moriarty, T. 3 3 88 Nelson Harbour Board ... New Plymouth Recreation and Racecourse Reserve Amendment Bill 2 2 199 Peters, Catherine C. . . 2 293 Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill Rosenberg, B. Rotorua Town Lands Bill 4 4 3 131 295 Simpson, I). M., and 43 others Smith, Robert Spocial report (re Chairman) Special report (re Clerk) 2 3 4 4 Taieri River Improvement Bill.. Te Aroha Crown Leases Bill 4 2 Wanganui River Trust Amendment Bill.. Whakatanc Harbour Amendment Bill .. Williams, W. T., and 3 others .. 3 2 3 327

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REPORTS. No. 88. —Petition of the Nelson Harbour Board. Praying that the payment of the Government subsidy be not discontinued. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Railways Committee for consideration. 25th August, 1920.

Special Report : Late Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald. I am directed to report that the Lands Committee, of which the late Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald was for so long a distinguished member, desires to express its appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him in the best interests of the Dominion by the discharge of the manifold duties devolving upon members of this important Committee. His practical knowledge, and his earnest desire to promote New Zealand interests in matters relating to lands, were always most helpful, and he exercised a very wide influence on the deliberations and conclusions of this Committee. This Committee now begs to tender its heartfelt sympathy to the widow and family of the late Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald in their great bereavement, and desires to place on record its appreciation of his valuable services as a member of the Committee for man}' years past. Ist September, 1920.

No. 142. —Petition of J. Francis and 77 Others; and No. 143, Petition of R. L. Geddes and Another. Praying for a grant of land from the Kyeburn Station. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to these petitions. 9th September, 1920.

No. 223. —Petition of the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Te Aroha; and No. 224, Petition of H. Jackson and 331 Others. Praying that the holders of business- and residence-site leases in Te Aroha be granted the option to acquire the freehold. I am directed to report that, as the subject-matter of these two petitions has been dealt with in the Te Aroha Crown Leases Bill, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th September, 1920.

No. 131.— Petition of D. M. Simpson and 43 Others. Praying that the tenure of their holdings be altered so as to enable them to acquire the freehold. I am directed to report that the Committee considers this is a matter of policy, and therefore should be dealt with by the Government; but the Committee is of opinion that, provided the proceeds from the sales of the lands referred to in this petition are reinvested in Government bonds or in some other Government investment, and the proceeds devoted to the same purposes as the rents of endowment lands are now Riven to, (lie Committee considers that such legislation would be in the interests of the Dominion ; and that the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 9th September, 1920.

No. 199.—Petition of Catherine C. Peters. Praying that section 50 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1919, be repealed. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 15th September, 1920.

Akarana and Waitemata Counties Bill. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the Bill be not allowed to proceed, the Government having promised to appoint a Commission to inquire into the whole question. 15th September, 1920.

New Plymouth Recreation and Racecourse Reserve Amendment Bill. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 15th September, 1920.

Whakatane Harbour Amendment Bill. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. « 15th September, 1920.

Te Aboha Crown Leases Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 21st September, 1920.

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No. 189.—Petition of C. T. Mitchell. Praying for a public inquiry into the reasons why a section of land was refused him by the Auckland Land Board. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 23rd September, 1920. ___

No. 244.—Petition of T. Moriarty. Praying for compensation for damage to property through dredging operations on the Grey River. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 23rd September, 1920.

No. 111.—Petition of J. H. Hyde and 18 Others. Praying that a road be constructed through the Petane Block. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends this petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 23rd September, 1920.

Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Bill. 1 am directed to report that the Committee recommends the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 23rd September, 1920.

Bay of Islands Harbour Bill I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 23rd September, 1920.

Wanganui River Trust Amendment Bill. 1 am directed to report that the Committee recommends this Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 29th September, 1920.

Gisbohne Harbour Board Amendment Bill. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends this Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 29th September, 1920.

No. 327.—Petition of W. T. Williams and 3 Others. Praying for acquisition by the Government of timber areas now leased to the Tongariro Timber Company. T am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should.be referred to the Native Affairs Committee for consideration. 14th October, 1920.

No. 65. —Petition of Matthew Henry. Praying for an inquiry by a Supreme Court Judge in connection with the sale of Balachraggan Settlement. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion this is not a case that should be referred to a Supreme Court Judge, but recommends that petitioner should receive portion of the profits made by the Government on the sale of petitioner's property. 14th October, 1920.

Land Laws Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed with amendment as shown in the copy attached hereto. 19th October, 1920. "

No. 201.—Petition of W. J. Dennehy. Praying that he be granted compensation from the Westland Land Board. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 20th October, 1920.

No. 295. —Petition of Robert Smith. Praying for an inquiry into the valuation of properties in One Tree Hill district, Auckland. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 20th October, 1920.

Rotohua Town Lands Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 21st October, 1920.

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No. 305.—Petition of Agnes H. Hillman and 11 Others. '.■"raying that legislation be enacted to enable them to acquire the freehold. I am directed to report that as a question of policy is involved the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. . 27th October, 1920.

No. 293.—Petition of B. Rosenberg. Praying for restoration of property at Brighton previously held by him. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 27th October, 1920.

No. 87. —Petition of Walter Fuller. Praying for compensation for land and fencing acquired by the Government for roading purposes. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 27th October, 1920.

Taieri River Improvement Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 27th October, 1920.

No. 354.—Petition of E. J. Darby and 28 Others. Praying for the option of acquiring the freehold of their sections. I am directed to report that as a matter of policy is involved the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 3rd November, 1920.

Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with amendments as shown in copy-attached hereto. 3rd November, 1920.

Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill (Supplementary). The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with amendments as shown in copy attached hereto. Bth November, 1920.

Special Report (re Chairman). I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee desires to place on record its high appreciation of the capable and impartial manner in which the Chairman (Mr. E. Newman) has presided over its deliberations during the session. D. Jones, 9th November, 1.920. Member of the Committee.

Special Report (re Clerk). I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the good service rendered by the Clerk (Mr. R. Parsons), who has discharged his duties with diligence and tact, and recommends to (lie Government that his services as a Committee Clerk be permanently retained. 9th November, 1920. Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee, consisting of twelve members, has during the session held sixteen meetings, the average attendance being eight members at each meeting. Twenty-three petitions were referred to the Committee, and eighteen reported to the House. The number of Bills referred to the Committee was twelve, all of which have been reported to the House. 9th November, 1920.

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