LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. C. M. WILLIAMS, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1939 Session I, I-05

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1939. NEW ZEALAND.

LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. C. M. WILLIAMS, Chairman.)

laid on the Table of the House of Representatives.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE.

Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, tiie Ist Day of August, 1939. Ordered " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten 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 consist of Mr Boswell, Mr. Cullen, Colonel Hargest, Mr. Kidd, Mr. McCombs, Mr. Meachcn, the Hon. Sir Alfred Ransom, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Williams, and the Mover."'—(Hon. Mr. Lee Martin.) Wednesday, the 2nd Day of August, 1939. Ordered, " That tho name of Mr. McCombs be discharged from the Lands Committee, and that of Mr. Combs substituted therefor." —(Hon. Mr. Lee Martin.) Thursday, the 3rd Day op August, 1939. Ordered " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1938 be again referred to the same Committees'as they were referred to during the said session."—(Hon. Mr. Fraser.) Wednesday, the 23rd Day of August, 1939. Ordered, " That the Lands Committee have leave to sit during the present sitting of the House."—(Mr. Williams.) Thursday, the 14th Day of September, 1939. Ordered, " That the name of the Hon. Mr. Lee Martin be discharged from the Lands Committee, and that of the Mover substituted therefor." —(Hon. Mr. Langstone.) Wednesday, the 20th Day of September, 1939. Ordered, " That the Lands Committee have leave to sit during the present sitting of the Houso."-(Mr. Cullen for Mr. Williams.) Friday, the 22nd Day of September, 1939. Ordered, " That the Lands Committee have leave to sit during tho present sitting of the House."-(Mr. Boswell for Mr. Williams.) u Exchange and Empowering Act stands referred to the Lands C ° m The Bill o ttgh toinofl Empowering Act stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. (,7tl TtoTOU inMtSiid the Otago Harbour Board Empowering Act stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. (2r>t TheTfnnliUded the Auckland City Empowering Act stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. (25th Aug Tte BU?intituled the Lower Clutha River Improvement Amendment Act stands referred to the Lands Committee fOT Amendment Act stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. P Zfßlnntitale < l thfltive Purposes Act stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. (20th September, 1939 The Bill intituled the Local Legislation Act stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. (22nd September, 1939 The Bill intituled the Land Laws Amendment Act, having been read a first time in the House of Representatives on the 26th September, 1939, stands referred to the Lands Committee for report. (27th Septembe , . .)

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REPORTS.

New Plymouth Borough Land Exchange and Empowering Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the New Plymouth Borough Land Exchange and Empowering Bill, and recommends that, so far as it affects public reserves or domains, the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 24th August, 1939.

Bluff Borough Council Empowering Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Bluff Borough Council Empowering Bill, and, so far as it affects the rights and prerogatives of the Crown, recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 24tli August, 1939.

No. 9.—Petition of E. R. Renner and Another, of Patutahi, Farmers. Praying for an inquiry into the valuation placed on their property under the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act, and for relief from an order of the Court of Review and other relief. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition. The Committee is of opinion that the prayer of the petition is, in effect, a prayer for the revision of the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act, and, this being a matter of policy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 24th August, 1939. C. M. Williams, Chairman.

Otago Harbour Board Empowering Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Otago Harbour Board 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. 12th September, 1939.

Auckland City Empowering Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Auckland City Empowering Bill, and recommends that, so far as it affects a public reserve, the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 12th September, 1939.

No. 32.—Petition of J. Pagan, of Wellington, New Zealand, Discharged Soldier. Praying for compensation in respect of land resumed by the Crown. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 12th September, 1939.

No. 102/1938. —Petition of J. Moyniiian, of Auckland, formerly Farmer. Praying for an inquiry into the circumstances of the purchase and loss of his farm. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petit ion, and has no recommendation to make. 12th September, 1939.

No. 40. —Petition of F. S. Bowen and Others, of Gisborne, Sheep-farmers. Praying for the revival of an Adjustment Commission under the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act for the purpose of making further adjustments in certain stock accounts. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition. The Committee is of opinion that the prayer of the petition is, in effect, a prayer for the revision of the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act, and, this being a matter of policy, the Committee lias no recommendation to make. 12th September, 1939. B. Roberts, for Chairman.

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Lower Clutha River Improvement Amendment Rill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Lower Clutha Kiver Improvement Amendment Bill, and recommends that, so far as it affects the rights am prerogatives of the Crown, the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 14th September, 1939.

Small Farms Amendment Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Small Farms Amendment Bill, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 15th September, 1939.

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 the Bill be allowed to proceed without amend men . 19th September, 1939. C - M - Williams, Chairman.

Native Purposes Bill. I HAVE the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Native Purposes 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 September, 1939. E - Cu ™> for Chairman.

Local Legislation Bill. I HAVE the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Local Legislation Bill, and the amendments thereto proposed by His Excellency the Governor-General shown on Supplementary Order Paper No. 11, and recommends that the amendments be added to the Bill, and that, so far as it affects public reserves, the Bill be allowed to proceed without further amendment. 22nd September, 1939.

No. 30. Petition of A. J. Barker and Others, of Kapuka South, Southland, Farmers. Praying for assistance in the drainage of certain lands in Oteramika Hundred. 1 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. 28th September, 1939.

Land Laws Amendment Rill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Land Laws Amendment Bill, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 28th September, 1939.

No. 41.—Petition of 6. Kirkbride, of Waiinana, Farmer. Praying for compensation for loss allegedly sustained through being deprived of access to his land, and j°' h "^ f ' T t [ i^ Ihollour1 h0110ur tQ report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 6th October, 1939.

No. 58.—Petition of IT. C. Wheeler, of Miuiwai Reach, Kaipara, Farmer. Praying for compensation for loss allegedly sustained through erroneous valuation of his property hv the Valuation Department. „ ~ - ... I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition, and has no recommendation to make. 6th October, 1939. C - M ' Williams, Chairman.

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Special Report. I have the honour to report that at its final meeting the Lands Committee unanimously passed the following resolution : " That this Committee places on record its appreciation of the capable manner in which the Chairman, Mr. C. Morgan Williams, has conducted the business of the Committee throughout the session, and directs that this resolution be reported to the House." 6th October, 1939. C. W. Boswell, Member of the Committee.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that at its final meeting, held on Thursday, the sth day of October, 1939, the Lands Committee expressed, by resolution, its appreciation of the services rendered by the Clerk, Mr. W. J. Organ, and directed that this be reported to the House. 6th October, 1.939.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee, consisting of ten members, has held ten meetings during the session, with an average attendance of seven members. Ten Bills and eight petitions were referred to the Committee, and all were considered and reported on to the House except one petition, which was received too late for the necessary information relating thereto to be obtained by the Committee. 6th October, 1939. C. M. Willtams, Chairman.

Approximate Co*t of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (310 copies), £3 15s.

Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.— 1940.

Prion 3d.~\

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