LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. J. A. MACPHERSON, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1931 Session I-II, I-05

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1931. NEW ZEALAND.

LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. J. A. MACPHERSON, Chairman.)

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

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 21st Day of July, 1931. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be set up, consisting, by leave of the House, of fourteen 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 recommend such amendments therein as it thinks 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. Broadfoot, Mr. Dickie, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Healy, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Jones, Mr. Langstone, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Martin, Mr. J. N\ Massey, Mr. McDougall, Mr. Poison, Mr. Savage, and the Mover." —(Hon. Mr. Ransom.) Tuesday, the 28th Day of July, 1931. Ordered, " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1930 be again referred to the same Committees as they were referred to during the said session, and that all petitions received during the first session of 1931 be dealt with as if they had been received this session."—(Right Hon. Mr. Forbes.) Friday, the 7th Day of August, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of L. P. Jensen and others be referred direct to the Lands Committee." —(Mr. Macmillan.) Friday, the 2nd Day of October, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of J. Crichton be referred direct to the Lands Committee." —(Mr. Dickie.) Tuesday, the 13th Day of October, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of F. E. Mitchinson and another be referred direct to the Lands Committee." — (Mr. Langstone.) Memoranda for the Chairman of the Lands Committee. The Bill intituled the Cameron and Soldiers' Memorial Park (Masterton) Trustees Empowering Bill stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. The Bill intituled the Rotorua Borough Reclamation Empowering Bill stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. The Bill intituled the Auckland Harbour Bridge Empowering Bill stajids referred to the Lands Committee for report. The Bill intituled the Wellington City Empowering Bill stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. The Bill intituled the Auckland Harbour Board and other Local Bodies Empowering Bill stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. The Bill intituled the Stoke Water-supply Bill stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. The Bills intituled the Lands Laws Amendment Bill and the Education Reserves Amendment Bill stand referred to the Lands Committee for report. The Bill intituled the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Bill stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. The amendments proposed by His Excellency the Governor-General in the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Bill stand referred to the Lands Committee for report. The Bill intituled the Local Legislation Bill stands referred to the Lands Committee for report.

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INDEX.

REPORTS.

Cameron and Soldiers' Memorial Park (Masterton) Trustees Empowering Bill. Ī have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Cameron and Soldiers' Memorial Park (Masterton) Trustees Empowering Bill, and recommends that, so far as it affects a public reserve, the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 20th August, 1931.

Rotorua Borough Reclamation Empowering Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Rotorua Borough Reclamation Empowering Bill, and recommends that, so far as it affects the rights and prerogatives of the Crown, the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 20th August, 1931.

No. 17 (Sess. 2). —Petition of Frederick Conrad Yule, of Featherston, Hotelkeeper. Praying for a refund of a deposit of £231 paid by petitioner to the Commissioner of Crown Lands on an incompleted purchase of land in the Tarawera Survey District, or other relief. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 20th August, 1931.

No. 42 (Sess. 2). —Petition of. Stanley Forbes Gough Williams, of Runciman. Praying that the Lands Department be compelled to inform the petitioner what it proposes to do in regard to money owing by petitioner to the Department. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 20th August, 1931.

No. 69 (Sess. 2). —Petition of Maria Callaghan, of Green Island. Praying for a compassionate allowance in respect of loss on the sale of her land. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 20th August, 1931.

No. 47 (Sess. 2). —Petition of John Thomas Bicknell, of Featherston. Praying that he be granted compensation for losses incurred on his farm. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 20th August, 1931.

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I I No. Petitioner, &c. j Page. J ; ' ■■■■' J ■ ' 1 Auckland Harbour Board and other 3 Local Bodies Empowering Bill Auckland Harbour Bridge Empowering 3 Bill 3 Amos, C., and 8 others .. .. 3 (Sess. 1) 82 Bedell, M. .. .. .. .. 3 (Sess. 2) 47 Bicknell, J. T. .. .. .. 2 (Sess. 2) 69 Callaghan, M. .. .. .. 2 (Sess. 2) Cameron and Soldiers' Park (Masterton) 2 Trustees Empowering Bill Education Reserves Amendment Bill .. 4 108 Edwards, A. .. .. .. 4 j (Sess. 2) Final report .. .. .. 4 Land Laws Amendment Bill .. .. 4 Local Legislation Bill . . .. 4 8 McKenna, A. P. .. . . .. 3 (Sess. 1) i

IJ No. Petitioner, <tc. Page. 210/30 Pagan, J. .. .. .. ., 3 Reserves and other Lands Disposal Bill 4 Reserves and other Lands Disposal Bill, 4 amendments proposed in Rotorua Borough Reclamation Empower- 2 ing Bill Special Report (re Chairman) .. 4 Special Report (re Clerk) .. .. 4 Stoke Water-supply Bill .. .. 4 32 Tansey, P. M. M. ' .. .. .. 3 (Sess. 2) 238/30 1 S ;K 4 j>Timmings, W. E. .. .. 3 (Sess. 1) J Wellington Citv Empowering Bill .. 3 i 42 Williams, S. F.' G. .. .. .. 2 [ (Sess. 2) 17 Yule, V. C. .. .. . . 2 j(Sess. 2)

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Auckland Harbour Bridge Empowering Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Auckland Harbour Bridge Empowering Bill, and recommends that, so far as it affects the rights and prerogatives of the Crown, the Bill be allowed to proceed, with the amendments shown in the copy of the Bill hereto attached. 27th August, 1931.

Wellington City Empowering Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Wellington City Empowering Bill, and recommends that, so far as it affects the rights and prerogatives of the Crown, the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 9th September, 1931.

No. 32.—Petition of Frances Maria Murray Tansey, of Ohakune. Praying for compensation or a compassionate grant in respect of the forfeiture of her farm at Ohakune. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 9th September, 1931.

No. 210/30. —Petition of James Pagan, of Kohatu, Farmer. Praying for compensation or other relief in respect of discharged soldiers' settlement land formerly held by him at Golden Downs. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 9th September, 1931.

No. 82 (Sess. 2). —Petition of Margaret Bedell, of Wellington, Widow. Praying for a compassionate allowance on account of loss to her late husband's estate through farming on Crown land in Murchison County. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for consideration. The Committee desires to recommend also that the Lands Department should take steps to see that applicants who are not practical farmers are given advice as to the actual capacity of the land before their applications are considered. 9th September, 1931.

Nos. 238/30 and 4/31 (Sess. 1). —Petition of William Edward Timmings, of Wellington. Praying that the transfers of certain land at the Hutt be cancelled. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the above petition, and has no recommendation to make. 17th September, 1931.

No. 8. —Petition of Arthur Poland McKenna, of Taumarunui. Praying for the payment for work done on land now in possession of the Crown. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the above petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. The Committee is of the opinion that a just and preferential claim should be given to the petitioner over and above other creditors, since the work effected by him is a permanent improvement to Crown property, and without this improvement in fencing the property would be of little value. 17th September, 1931.

No. 3 (Sess. 1). —Petition of Claude Amos and 8 others, all of Weraroa, Farmers. Praying that the valuations of their farms at Weraroa be reviewed and the rentals reduced. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the above petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for consideration. The Committee desires to express the opinion that legislation should be introduced to enable relief to be given in this and similar cases. Bth October, 1931.

Auckland Harbour Board and other Local Bodies Empowering Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Auckland Harbour Board and other Local Bodies Empowering Bill, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 9th October, 1931.

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No. 108 (Sess. 2). —Petition of Avis Edwards, of Henderson, Widow. Praying for a reduction in the capital value of her land. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 29th October, 1931.

Stoke Water-supply Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Stoke Water-supply Bill, and recommends that, as a question of policy is involved, the Bill be not allowed to proceed. 29th October, 1931.

Reserves and other Lands Disposal Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Bill, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with the amendment shown in the copy of the Bill hereto attached. sth November, 1931.

Land Laws Amendment Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Land Laws Amendment Bill, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. sth November, 1931.

Education Reserves Amendment Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Education Reserves Amendment Bill, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. sth November, 1931.

Local Legislation Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Local Legislation Bill, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 7th November, 1931.

Amendments proposed by His Excellency the Governor-General in the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the amendments proposed by His Excellency the Governor-General in the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Bill, as shown on Supplementary Order Paper No. 43, and recommends that they be allowed to proceed. 7th November, 1931.

9 Special Report. I have the honour to report that at its final meeting, on Friday, the 6th November, the Lands Committee expressed its appreciation of the services rendered by the Clerk, Mr. W. J. Organ, and directed that the resolution be reported to the House. 7th November, 1931.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that at its final meeting, held on Friday, the 6th day of November, 1931, the Lands Committee unanimously passed the following resolution : " That this Committee desires to express its high appreciation of the able and tactful manner in which the Chairman, Mr. J. A. Macpherson, has conducted the business of the Committee throughout the session, and directs that this resolution be reported to the House." 9th November, 1931. H. G. Dickie, Member of the Committee.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee, consisting of fourteen members, has held ten meetings, and that the average attendance at each meeting has been seven members. Fifteen petitions were referred to the Committee, of which twelve have been considered and reported to the House. Eleven Bills were referred to the Committee, and all were considered and reported on. 7th November, 1931. J. A. Maopherson, Chairman.

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