Merger plans criticised

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 5

Merger plans criticised

PA Wellington Government plans to merge the Lands and SurveyDepartment and the Forest Service have come under criticism from the Native Forests Action Council. It says the Forest Service would dominate the merged organisation. "People who are mostlyinterested in the use of land for commercial purposes are suddenly going to gain a big influence over land-use decisions on all publicly owned land, including national

parks, reserves, pastoral lands, and most of the Southern Alps." said the council's 'president. Miss Gwenny Davis. There was a great danger that the Forest Service's "crack timber troops" would march into the new structure and take it over from the outset, she said. "The new structure does nothing to solve the problems of the Forest Service accountability. The main hope of conservationists was

that the Government pursue the proposal to relocate the commercial forestry work of the Forest Service in a separate commission or corporation." Separate and different structures were needed so the people who were supposed to be making money could get on and do so properly. while those charged with nature protection could approach the task without conflicting responsibilities.