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No. 186. —Petition of George Pointon and 6 Others, of Wellington. Praying for an inquiry into the liquidation of the Empire Loan Company. I am directed to report that, the petitioners not having exhausted their legal remedies, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 3rd October, 1917.

No. 362.—Petition of G. McKnight and 2 Others, of Auckland. Praying for an inquiry into certain allegations against the administration of the State Advances Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 4th October, 1917.

No. 309.—Petition of Sanford Limited, of Auckland. Praying for inquiry into the action of the Auckland City by-law which deals with the inspection of fish and the fees for such inspection. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a suggestion that the inspection of fish should be under the control of the Government, and the fees collected by it, where there are municipal fish-markets. sth October, 1917.

No. 216. —Petition of Ernest Short, of Feilding. Praying for inquiry into the action of the Defence Department in calling up his sons under section 35 of the Military Service Act. I am directed to report that, having inquired into the circumstances, the Committee are of opinion—(l) that the Short family should not have been dealt with under section 35 of the Military Service Act, as W. G. Short had enlisted in August, 1914; (2) that the notice under that section was issued by mistake owing to the incomplete state of the official files; (3) that in the opinion of the Committee, under the circumstances, no stigma rests upon the Short family. sth October, 1917.

No. 253.—Petition of Ruby E. Watson, of Hamilton. Praying for relief in respect of the treatment of her son by the Defence Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. sth October, 1917.

No. 328.—Petition of Ernest J. Mclnroe and Another, of Greymouth. Praying for compensation for extra work alleged to have been done in connection with the bridge at Holman's Crossing. I am directed to report that, the parties having come to a settlement of the matters in dispute, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th October, 1917.

No. 377.—Petition of Harry B. Murphy, of Melbourne, Victoria. Praying for such an amendment of the law as would relieve petitioner from having to serve under the Military Service Act, 1916, as a resident of New Zealand. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, the Committee being of opinion that petitioner was not domiciled in New Zealand, but was kept here under an arrangement with the Agricultural Department. 10th October, 1917.

No. 431.—Petition of Herbert Peake, of Auckland. Praying for compensation for loss of health while an officer of the Lands and Deeds Registry Department. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee, under the special circumstances, the petition should be referred to the Government for immediate and most favourable consideration. 10th October, 1917.

No. 430. —Petition of John S. Taylor, of Wanganui. Praying for a rehearing of a certain case. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 10th October, 1917.