Land Use Body Urged

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31519, 6 November 1967, Page 12

Land Use Body Urged

(N.Z Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 5. A new administrative body working on a national and regional basis, patterned on the general system of the National Roads Board was suggested in Auckland on Saturday to co-ordinate and direct all aspects of land use, development and conservation. The suggestion was one of a number of recommendations adopted by a two-day conference of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers called to discuss the New Zealand countryside in 1980. About 150 delegates attended. They heard the views of Cabinet Ministers, members of Parliament and leaders in a wide range of professions and occupations. The bulk of the recommendations aimed at improving the planning and co-ordin-ation of land use and conservation and public education. Delegates were anxious that the work done so far should not be wasted but should be continued and expaned. They asked that a body such as the Nature Conservation Council be examined with a view to strengthening present legislation and widening its scope to make it more

effective in planning and coordinating nature conservation. A further resolution asked that a central council be set up to co-ordinate research into sociological, ecological and conservation work. Such a body, they considered, should be similar to the Medical Research Council in not only co-ordinating research but also initiating it and reporting to Parliament through a minister.

An Auckland barrister, Mr R. K. Davison, Q.C., summed up the points of view presented on Friday and said it was substantially agreed that unless planned development took place New Zealand would proceed from a mildly disorganised countryside at the present time to a chaotically disorganised countryside in 1980. A further conference will be held before the end of 1969.