1.—9.

3

No. 174—Petition of M. A. Sydenham, of Auckland, and 1,009 Others; No. 148—Petition of D. Goldie and 1,004 Others; No. 157—Petition of C. H. Furness and 1,016 Others; No. 197— Petition of A. Rosser and 1,200 Others; No. 259—Petition of A. Ferguson and 808 Others ; and No. 322—Petition of J. Macky and 408 Others. Praying that the law be so amended as to provide that licensed premises shall be compelled to close from 1 o'clock in the afternoon on the statutory closing-day. I am directed to report that, as this matter affects licensing legislation, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th December, 1913.

No. 436—Petition of Richard Hughes and 10,418 Others ; and No. 442—Petition of John Lowe and 618 Others. Praying that the Auckland Half-holiday Bill may not be passed into law. I am directed to report that, the Bill to which this petition refers having been dealt with, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th December, 1913.

No. 375—Petition of James Allan, of Auckland, and 1,109 Others ; No. 376—Petition of John Belcher and 1,149 Others; and No. 377—Petition of Robert Bates and 405 Others. Praying that the Auckland Half-holiday Bill may be given favourable consideration. 1 am directed to report that, the Bill to which these petitions refer having been dealt with, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th December, 1913.

No. 129.—Petition of Johnston and Noble, of Takapuna, and 33 Others. I , raying that the shopkeepers of Takapuna and Devonport be allowed to fall in with the City of Auckland in the matter of observing Saturday as the statutory half-holiday. I am directed to report that, the Bill to which this petition refers having been dealt with, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th December, 1913.

No. 134.—Petition of John Livessey and 1,147 Others (Second Report). Praying that the Shops and Offices Act be so amended as to grant exemption to Devonport from compulsory Saturday closing. I am directed to report that, the Bill to which this petition refers having been dealt with, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th December, 1913.

No. 109—Petition of Robert E. Gray, of Ponsonby. and 9,999 Others ; No. 156—Petition of Mary Tonge and 4,999 Others; and No. of J. Jones and 21 Others. Praying that the Shops and Offices Act be so amended as to give shopkeepers the option of Wednesday or Saturday closing ; oj, failing that, that all exemptions be extinguished, including publichouse bars, within a ten-mile radius of the Chief Post-office. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on the abovementioned petition. 9th December, 1913.

No. 133.—Petition of M. Amos and 1,846 Others. Praying that the residents of Takapuna and Devonport have no wish to alter the existing circumstances under which they, as a combined district within the mile radius of Auckland, are entitled to the Saturday half-holiday. I am directed to report that, the Bill to which this petition refers having been dealt with, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th December, 1913.

Special Report. Resolved, That this Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the efficient manner in which the Chairman, Mr. J. H. Bradney, has carried out his duties, and that this resolution be reported to the House. 10th December, 1913.