Farmers rap lack of consultation

Press, 1 June 1985, Page 2

Farmers rap lack of consultation

PA Wellington Lack of consultation with private landowners over the proposed Ministry for the Environment was appalling, said Federated Farmers yesterday. The president, Mr Peter Elworthy, said that private landowners had not been offered formal speaking rights at the environmental forum, had no representative on the working party considering the proposed structures, and “had still not been given an opportunity to comment.” “It is unacceptable that a

“It is unacceptable that a decision can be made with so little consultation on such an important issue for all landowners,” he said. Land held in private ownership amounted to about 55 per cent of all land in New Zealand, and without landowners’ co-opera-tion he doubted whether the proposed Environmental Ministry could achieve its object, Mr Elworthy told

the federation’s West Coast annual conference.

“We are particularly concerned about the effects which this report would have on 26,000 Crown lessees. It is also surprising that apparently the Government’s own land managers have had little opportunity to comment.”

Proposed administrative structures would not provide adequate means for integration of conservation and development, Mr Elworthy said. What was needed was a charter setting up a Ministry which apportioned equal weight to both the preservation and conservation of the environment and to wise development of natural resources.

Federated Farmers was in favour of a Ministry for the Environment, provided procedures ensured that multiple use of land was given adequate and fair consideration.