PUBLIC PETITIONS M TO Z COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE) (Dr. A. M. FINLAY, Chairman)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1948 Session I, I-02

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1948 NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC PETITIONS M TO Z COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE) (Dr. A. M. FINLAY, Chairman)

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives

ORDERS OF REFERENCE

Extracts from: the Journals of the House of Representatives Wednesday, the 7th Day of July, 1948 Ordered, " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1947 be again referred to the sames Committees as they were referred to during the said session."—(Right Hon. Mr. Fraser.) Thursday, the Bth Day of July, 1948 Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of nine members, to consider all petitions from Mto Z which may be referred to it; to classify and prepare abstracts of such petitions in such form and manner as shall appear to it best suited to convey to this House all requisite information respecting their contents, and to report the same from time to time to this House ; and to have power to report its opinions and observations thereon to this House : the Committee to consist of Dr. Finlay, Mr. Fortune, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Kent, Mr. Maher, Mr. Neale, Mr. Omana, Mr. T. E. Skinner, and the Mover."—(Hon. Mr. Hackett.)

INDEX

No. Subject-matter. i Page. 1 122/1947 Miller, J., and others 2 43 Millett, P. E. 3 41 Murray, G. H. 3 124/1947 Napier Borough Council 3 10 Newberry, Mary A. 3 47 Orsulich, J. .. .. .. .. 3 121/1947 Preston and Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 2 3 Protheroe, A. G., and others 4 115/1947 88 Rains, L. C. 2 Russell, G. H. 4 46 Simister, W. H. .. .. .. 3 63 Townley, Marjorie 4 6 Trades Hall (Invercargill), Ltd. 2 109/1947 Webster, J. P., and others 2

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REPORTS

No. 109/1947 —Petition of J. P. Webster and Others Praying for the withdrawal for income-tax purposes of the approval of the Guarantee and Provident Fund of the Union Bank of Australia pending review of the rules, and other relief. lam directed to report that the Committee has considered this petition. It has no recommendation to make on the prayer of the petition, but is strongly of the opinion that legislation should be introduced requiring all pension and superannuation schemes operating in the Dominion to provide for the refund of contributions on termination of employment before the superannuation age is reached. 29th July, 1948.

No. 115/1947 —Petition of L. C. Rains, of Auckland Praying for restoration to his original classified position in the Post and Telegraph Department, or other relief. I am directed to report that the Committee has considered this petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 29th July, 1948.

No. 121/1947 —Petition of Preston and Co., Ltd. Praying for refund of duty paid on a quantity of ale and stout which subsequently became unfit for human consumption. I am directed to report that the Committee has considered this petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 4th August, 1948.

No. 122/1947 —Petition of J. Miller and Others Praying for the early installation of electric lighting on the North Road Highway from the boundary of the City of Invercargill to Cooper's Corner. I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition? and finds that the road has been dangerous to motorists, pedestrians, and particularly cyclists, but that the improvement work now being carried out by the Main Highways Board should make it much safer. It is also of the opinion that the lighting should be considerably improved, but as the district is becoming more and more built up, this is primarily the responsibility of the adjacent local authorities, and as an official approach has. yet to be made to them the Committee has no recommendation to make. sth August, 1948.

No. 6—Petition of Trades Hall (Invercargill), Ltd. Praying for exemption from payment of gift duties, and other relief. I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 18th August, 1948.

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No. 41 —Petition of G. H. Murray tha V^ e petitioner's invalidity benefit, No. 7/119, be restored in full as from the Ist day of January, 1948. 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 15th September, 1948.

No. 47—Petition of J. Orsulich Praying for the grant of an age-benefit in respect of hinfself and his wife. I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition but as the petitioner has not exhausted his legal remedv, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 15th September, 1948.

No. 10—Petition of Mary A. Newberry Advances f C^rporatioiT^ 011 propert - v taken over Lailds Department of State I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition, and lias no recommendation to make. 22nd September, 1948.

No. 43—Petition of P. E. Millett Praying for inquiry into the circumstances of and compensation for his arrest and other matters m connection therewith. I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 29th September, 1948.

No. 46—Petition of W. H. Simister, of Takapuna Praying for reinstatement into the Police Force or, alternatively, for an increase in superannuation. I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th October, 1948.

No. 124/1947—Petition of Napier Borough Council Praying that action be taken to prevent the removal of stone, shingle, or sand from the beach between the Waitangi, on the south, and the Napier Borough boundary, on the n osition° r a C ° mmiSSlon 0f In( l uir y b e set up to inquire into and report upon the I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition. It is of the opinion that the taking of reasonable quantities of shingle from the beach appears to be unlikely to harm the building-up of the foreshore over a long period of years, but that continued excavation (particularly behind the crest of the beach) may weaken the natural barrier that now protects the low-lying countryside from occasional heavy seas. The Committee is unwilling, however, in the absence of sufficient technical evidence or knowledge, to come to a final conclusion on this point, and recommends that the Government give favourable consideration to its being investigated by a Commission of engineers, one each to be appointed by the Government and the petitioner,

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together with an independent Chairman. In the meantime and until this Commission of engineers reports, the Committee recommends that the taking of shingle be carried out only below the high-water level and under the close supervision of the Ministry of Works. 13th October, 1948.

No. 63—Petition of Marjorie Townley Praying for permission to amend her election to take a lump-sum refund of contributions in lieu of superannuation. I have the honour to repQrt that the Committee has carefully considered this petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for consideration. 10th November, 1948.

No. 88—Petition of G. H. Russell Praying for inquiry into certain business transactions and for compensation. I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 10th November, 1948.

3—Petition of A. G. Protheroe and Others Praying for the provision of shopping facilities in the Taita district. _ I have the honour to report that the Committee has carefully considered this petition, and recommends that, so long as the Taita Settlement consists almost entirely of State houses, the shops should also be provided by the Housing Construction Department; that the Hutt Yalley Consumers Co-operative Society, Ltd., should have first claim on these to accommodate the shops now operating in temporary premises ; that thereafter applications for tenancies be called generally, and that in making allocations the State Advances Corporation pay due regard to the rehabilitation of returned servicemen. A. M. Finlay, Chairman. 25th November, 1948.

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