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1946 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY PUBLIC DOMAINS AND NATIONAL PARKS OF NEW ZEALAND (ANNUAL REPORT ON)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 28th. June, 1946. Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith a report on the public domains and national parks of the Dominion for the year ended 31st March, 1946. I have, &c., R. Gr. Macmorran, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

REPORT PART I.—PUBLIC DOMAINS At 31st March, 1946, the total number of public domains administered under the provisions of Part II of the Public Reserves, Domains, and National Parks Act, 1928, was 816, covering a total area of 79,946 acres. Of these, 43 domains are controlled by the various Commissioners of Crown Lands, 300 are administered by local authorities acting as Domain Boards, while the remaining 473 are under local Boards. Following the cessation of hostilities, there has been a renewal of interest in the development of public domains, and numerous applications for financial assistance have been received and dealt with. However, the shortage of materials and lack of available labour have in most cases hindered the carrying-out of any large-scale programme of improvements. During the year two new domains—the Opoutama Domain and the Maruia War Memorial Domain—were constituted and arrangements made for their control. The Opoutama Domain, comprising 9£ acres, is situated at Mahia Bay, some 110 miles north of Napier. The area is suitable for use as a camping and picnic ground.