Lands Dept. Has 17m. Acres

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31112, 15 July 1966, Page 3

Lands Dept. Has 17m. Acres

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 14. The Lands and Survey Department controls 17,171,500 acres after the recent acquisition of the 134,433-acre Burwood station in Southland, the 421,000-acre Te Paki station in Northland and 28,500 acres in the Gisborne-East Coast region. The department’s annual report, tabled in Parliament today, said stock increases since last year were 12.5 per cent for sheep and 8.5 per cent for cattle. Departmental blocks now carry 1,200,000 sheep and 183,000 cattle. Of the land controlled by the department, 1,110,600 acres is in hand for ultimate subdivision and settlement and is expected to provide 1524 farms—about two-thirds of them carrying sheep. The report said the department’s civilian settlement scheme was not only playing an important part in meeting the needs of young landless farmers but was also making an impact on the economy of the country. During 1965-66, seven dairy and 54 sheep units were settled. They attracted 825 applicants. A feature was that 87 per cent of the applicants were under 40. Drug Haul Three particularly large hauls of opium—including

the largest single quantity yet found in New Zealand—were made by the Customs Department last year, says the department’s annual report. All had been “Ingeniously hidden” on overseas vessels — 9Jlb on the Tjiliwong, 18ilb on the Mantua and 421 b on the Tjitarum. The department took action against 345 persons for breaches of the law and seized goods valued at more than £30,000. Apart from four motor-cars seized after attempts falsely to represent them as qualifying for admission free of duty, most of the goods were “traditional contraband” watches, transistor radios and cigarettes. £s3m For Farms The Valuation Department last year recorded the sale of 4040 farms for a total of £53,000,000, says its annual report to Parliament Both the number of farms and the total purchase price paid were the highest since such information was first assembled in 1956. “Nearly all districts reported an upward trend in the price of farm land,” said the report. Parks Review A three-man working partj’ has been set up by the Lands and Survey Department to review the out-of-date National Parks Act and its administration, says the annual report of the department to Parliament. 1 “In recent years it has be-

come apparent that the act is no longer adequate if parks are to function efficiently in meeting the ever-increasing demands caused by greater public usage,” it said. The report said the working party had received submissions from overseas organisations—particularly in the United States, Canada and Australia—which had supplied special information on national park administration in their countries. “Participation in search and rescue operations last year made heavy demands on the financial and staffing resources of some national park boards,” it said. Publications Of the 13 publications referred to the Indecent Publications Tribunal last year six were ruled indecent, six were found not indecent and the other was restricted in circulation to persons over 18 years of age, says the Customs Department’s report. “In addition, departmental officers detected the importation of a variety of obscene articles not coming within the scope of the Indecent Publications Act,” says the report. “Under provisions of the Customs Act, these goods were seized and subsequently destroyed after the importers concerned had failed to dispute seizure.” Long Negotiations A scenic reserve created in; 1965 had been acquired after 45 years of negotiation says i the Lands and Survey Departiment's report

The reserve—l2,7oB acres round Lake Rotopounamu and Pihanga, near Taupo is steeped in Maori legend and is a scenic spot containing three extinct volcanic cones and native bush areas. Negotiations between the Crown and the Ngati Tuwharetqa tribe began in 1921. Customs Revenue The Customs Department’s net revenue was £12.6 million in the year ended March 31. This was an increase of 4 per cent (almost £5 million) on the previous year. Customs and excise duties were £44.4 million, including £16.7 million on manufactured tobaccos, beer duty was £16.4 million and motor spirits tax £26.9 million, credited to the National Roads Fund. At £38.3 million, sales tax was £157,000 lower than in the. previous year. The cost of administering the department was £1,086,573. or about 17s 2d for each £lOO of revenue collected the same as in the previous year. Brandy Distilled "Since the first experimental grape brandy was distilled at Henderson in March, 1964, there has been a continuing interest in this enterprise and now seven distillers hold licences to distil spirits for ex- • perimental purposes,” says the Customs Department rejport. . ' i During the 1965 vintage six I of the licence holders made experimental distillations and 911 proof gallons of brandy spirits were produced from different varieties of grape. 1 Last year 502,100 proof gal-

lons of gin and vodka produced from spirit supplied by the Neutral-Spirit Distillery at Auckland were warehoused by three licensed rectifying and compounding companies. Man In Japan Permanent customs representation in Japan and Australia is urgently needed, says the Customs Department’s report. “In the case of Japan the need is now more urgent than ever, but unfortunately no accommodation is currently available in the New Zealand Embassy for a customs officer,” says the report. “It is hoped that an officer: will shortly visit Japan ini order to undertake some of the most urgent inquiry work on hand, but this expedient can do little toward solving the continuing problem relating to values of Japanese goods.” 907 Reserves New Zealand now has 907 scenic reserves covering 623,458 acres. There are 20 private scenic reserves, 45 historic reserves, seven private historic reserves, 35 reserves for the preservation of flora and fauna and 912 domains. Revalued The Valuation Department revalued properties in 23 I counties, three cities, 23 i boroughs, two town districts, i and one road district in 1965, 'says the department’s annual 'report to Parliament. | Altogether 157,142 proper- : ties were revalued and 2279 i objections were lodged against ' the new valuations.