PUBLIC RESERVES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 4 August 1928, Page 2

PUBLIC RESERVES

BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT h (Ry Telegraph) (From "The Mail's" Parliamentary Reporter). -, WELLINGTON,, 3rd August.; .; A Bill .to make, better .provision for ■the control, management and development of public rese'rves, domains and national parks was. introduced by Gov-ernor-General's message in the House of Representatives to-night. The Bill clarifies the definition of a "public reserve" so as to mark as .clearly -as possible the dividing line between lands which aire public reserves and lands which are not. The classification of reserves under the 1908 Act has been dispensed with and full powers are given to change the purpose of the exchange or vest reserves subject to safeguarding provisions. The new provision empowers the Gov-ernor-General in Council to revoke the reservation over any reserve, subject to Parliamentary sanction, in the case of reserves set apart for public "health or recreation or for the use, support or education of aboriginal natives. The proceeds from the sale of areas originally , set apart far health or recreation are to be expended in providing for the revocation of vesting-orders and the cancellation of titles where it is established that the local bodies or trustees in whom the reserves have been vested are guilty of a serious breach of trust. , In regard to recreation grounds and domains the Bill confers power on the trustees or controlling boards to enter into an agreement with societies or sports bodies for the use of the reserves or part of them on a specified number of days in each year. The maximum period for an agreement is five years. The maximum number of days upon which admittance can bo made is not affected. The class ol buildings which may be erected includes gymnasiums or other buildings necessary for the full use of the reserve for the purposes for .which it was set apart subject to the present limitations regarding admission i . charges to such buildings. In domains areas may be set apart for baths, camping sites and parking places for vehicles, the approve of the charges to bo made. Domain boards are empowered to raise special loans for developmental works. The Bill raises the maximum fine ior offences in public domains from £2O to £SO or to imprisonment for tinee months.