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1919. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: PUBLIC DOMAINS OF NEW ZEALAND (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of Bis Excellency.

Sir,- Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 14th July, 1919. I have the honour to report on the public domains of the Dominion for the year ended ■31st December, 1918. There are now 581 domains administered under Part 11 of the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908, comprising a total area of 85,367 acres. This area includes the Wanganui River Trust Domain of 33,184 acres. Five new domains, containing a total area of 61 acres, were constituted during the year, and three of these are now controlled by local Domain Boards, but no Boards have yet been appointed for the remaining two. Five hundred and thirty-one domains are at present being controlled by Boards appointed from time to time, and fifty are under the control of the local Commissioners of Crown Lands until such time as the residents express a desire to have the control in their own hands. During the last three or four years domain lands have not been greatly used for athletic purposes, owing to the absence on active service of the majority of the young men of the Dominion and a shortage of labour, and in numerous cases a falling-off in revenue due to war conditions has prevented Boards from carrying out many necessary improvements to the lands under their control. However, with the cessation of hostilities and the return of the Expeditionary Force members, more use of domains may be confidently anticipated during the coming year. It is regretted that in some cases Domain Boards appear to evince little interest in the reserves under their control, and are very lax in supplying the Department with the returns required by statute. Speaking generally, however, the position of the public domains of the Dominion may be considered to be very satisfactory. I have, &c, T. N. Brodrick, Under-Secretary. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (800 copies), £1 10s.

Authority : Mabct/s F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l9.

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