Pastoral Lands Administration

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31500, 14 October 1967, Page 10

Pastoral Lands Administration

There has been a change in the form of the Lands and Survey Department’s administration of pastoral country.

Mr R. W. Wilson, who has been retained as chief pastoral lands officer, recalled this week that the pastoral lands group in the department had been set up after the passing of the 1948 Land Act

to give uniformity of approach to the run country throughout the South Island for the purpose of settling rentals, stock limitations and adjusting boundaries. This work bad been completed. Under the new arrangements he would be attached to the head office of the department but would still be stationed In Christchurch and would have an overall advisory position to ths six commissioners of Crown lands in the South Island on all problems relating to pastoral work. But now through tbe

commissioners the district field officers would be responsible for day to day administration, and this would result in coverage by a greater number of trained men. Where problems arose he would still liaise between runholders, the commissioners and the head office of the department Mr Wilson said that the department had worked in closely with the high country committee of Federated Farmers, who had been fully informed of the change over, which had taken place from August 1.