LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. HOCKLY, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1923 Session I-II, I-05

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Session 11. 1923. NEW ZEALAND.

LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. HOCKLY, Chairman.)

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

ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representative). Monday, the 9th Day of July, 1923. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten mombers, 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 Bills ; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Bitchener, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Glenn, Mr. Hockly, Mr. Langstone, Mr. McLood, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Savage, Mr. Witty, and tho mover."— (Hon. Mr. Bollard.)

INDEX.

No. o. Petitioner. Page. No. Petitioner. Page, 100 Auckland City and Auckland Harbour 3 Board Empowering Bill Auckland Harbour Board and Takapuna 3 Borough Council Empowering Bill I Campion, James .. .. .. 4 Christchurch Domains Amendment Bill 3 Clutha River Board Empowering Bill .. 3 9 Native Land Claims Adjustment Amend ment Bill Needham, P. R. 2 3 100 58 O'Donnell, William, and 94 others 4 Parliamentary Papers Nos. 142c and 178c Public Works Amendment Bill 3 o Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amend- 2 ment Bill Dunedin District Drainage and Sewer- 3 age Amendment Bill Rangitaiki Land Drainage Amendment Bill Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies' Empowering Bill 2 3 14 14 Final report .. .. .. 4 Greenwood, Charles.. .. .. 3 394/2? 95 43 Sanford, Albert Simson, R. W., and l(i others Snushall, Henry Special report (re Chairman) Steel, John, and 10 others 2 4 4 4 2 (., Harbours Bill .. . . .. 2 1 Land Drainage Amendment Pill .. 4 Manawatu-Oroua River District Bill .. 2 Masterton Trust Lands Trustees Em- 4 powering Bill Whangarei Harbour Board Vesting and Empowering Bill Wyndham Recreation Reserve Amendment Bill 3 2

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BE POETS. Harbours Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, lias the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 13th July, 1923.

Native Land Claims Adjustment Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee has made no amendment. The Committee is of opinion that the Bill should be referred to the Native Affairs Committee. 26th July, 1923.

No. 394/22. —Petition of Albert Sanford, of Auckland. Praying that he may be enabled to acquire the freehold of the foreshore of Rakino Island, Auckland Harbour, for the purpose of carrying on the fish industry. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 26th July, 1923.

No. I.—Petition of John Steel and 10 Others, of Rotorua County. Praying for legislation to enable the acquisition of freehold of national-endowment lands in Rotorua and Tauranga Counties. 1 am directed to report that, as a question of policy is involved, the Committee has no recommendation to make, but the Committee desires to record its sympathy with the prayer of the petitioners, to whom the option of the freehold is of vital importance. 2nd August, 1923.

Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 2nd August, 1923.

Public Works Amendmknt Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment.

9th August, 1923. Rangitaiki Land Drainage Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 9th August, 1923.

Manawatu-Oroua River District Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 9th August, 1923.

Wyndham Recreation Reserve Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 17th August, 1923.

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Auckland Harbour Board and Takapuna Borough Council Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee!, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 17th August, 1923.

No. 9.—Petition of P. R. Needham, of Christchurch. Praying for compensation for loss incurred owing to an alleged error in calculation of an area of land in Temuka. I have the honour to rej>ort that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 17th August, 1923.

Parliamentary Papers Nos. 142c and 178c (Proposals to withdraw certain Land prom Permanent State Forest Reservation). I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee these papers should be referred to the Government. 20th August, 1923.

No. 14. —Petition of Charles Greenwood, of Lower Hutt. Praying that a certain block of land at Makomako be reallotted to him, and for compensation for loss. I have the honour to report that, in accordance with the request of Mr. T. M. Willord, M.P., who presented the petition, the Committee recommends that leave be given for the petition to be withdrawn. 20th August, 1923.

Christchurch Domains Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 25th August, 1923.

Whangarei Harbour Board Vesting and Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that th said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 25th August, 1923.

Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerage Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. _ 25th August, 1923.

Clutha River Board Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 25th August, 1923.

Auckland City and Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 25th August, 1923.

Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed with amendments as shown on the copy of the Bill attached hereto. 25th August, 1923.

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Masterton Trust Lands Trustees Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Hill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 27th August, 1923.

Land Drainage Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the, above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with amendments as shown on copy of Bill attached hereto. 27th August, 1923.

No. 43. —Petition of Henry Snushall, of " Greenhills," near Kaikoura. Praying for legislation and relief with regard to certain " paper roads " on his land in the Kaikoura district. I have the honour to report that, as a question of policy is involved, the Committee has no recommendation to make ; that, while the Kaikoura County Council is acting within its legal rights, the petitioner is suffering hardship, and the Committee is of ojnnion that the matter is one for negotiation as between the petitioner and the County Council. 28th August, 1923.

No. 95.—Petition of R. W. Simson and 16 Others, of Puahue. Praying for revaluation and other relief with regard to their holdings in the Puahue Soldier Settlement. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 28th August, 1923. ,

No. 58.—Petition of William O'Donnell and 94 Others, of Owhango and other Districts. Praying for a revaluation of their holdings, and further assistance for stocking and improvements. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 28th August, 1923.

No. 100. —Petition of James Campion, of Hastings. Praying for compensation for loss sustained through error in survey of certain blocks of land at Fordell. I have the honour to report that the Committee is of opinion that the petitioner was misled when purchasing the land through a miscalculation of the Lands Department of the area of land included in the certificate of title. The Committee recommends that he bo afforded relief by way of special legislation in the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill of ,hi., session, enabling him to claim on the Land Transfer Assurance Fund ; further, that the Government be recommended to legislate in the direction of preventing registration of titles unless survey is of such dates, and the titles are issued under such authority, that the purchaser of the land will have recourse against the Land Transfer Assurance Fund in case a sho tage of area is found; that this petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 28th August, 1923.

Special Report. I am directed to report that at the final meeting of the Lands Committee the following resolution was carried unanimously : " That the Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the conspicuous ability, tact, and courtesy displayed by Mr. F. F. Hockly as Chairman of the Committee; that this resolution be recorded in the minutes and reported to the House." 28th August, 1923.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee, consisting of ten members, has held ten meetings during the session, the average attendance at each meeting being seven members. Fifteen petitions were referred to the Committee, and, of these, eight were considered and reported upon, and seven are held over until next session. Sixteen Bills and two papers were referred to the Committee, and all of these were considered and reported upon. 28th August, 1923.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, nut given ; printing (475 copies), £U 17a. lid.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l923.

Price 3d.]