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APPENDIX G FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SOIL CONSERVATION AND RIVERS CONTROL COUNCIL The Hon. the Minister of "Works. Sir In accordance with the requirements of section 33 of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act, 1941, the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council has the honour to submit its fifth annual report for presentation to Parliament. The report covers the period Ist April, 1946, to 31st March, 1947. The Council At the close of the previous financial year Mr. W. L. Newnham, on his retirement as Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, relinquished his appointment on the Council and was replaced by Mr. F. Langbein. Mr. T. G. G. Beck was appointed Chairman, which position he held until his appointment as Deputy Commissioner of Works. Mr. R. Gr. Macmorran, Under-Secretary for Lands, also retired from the Public Service and the Council, and was succeeded by Mr. I). M. Greig. During the year the constitution of the Council was altered to provide additional local-body and departmental representation, and the personnel of the reconstituted Council is now as under:— W. L. Newnham, representing the Commissioner of Works (Chairman). F. Langbein, Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department. D. M. Greig, Under-Secretary for Lands. A. R. Entrican, Director of Forestry. E. J. Fawcett, Director-General of Agriculture. C V Kirke / re P reseir^n £ the New Zealand Counties' Association. J. W. Andrews, representing the Muncipal Association of New Zealand. A. J. Davey, representing agricultural and pastoral interests. J. Callesen, representing River, Drainage, and Catchment Boards. During the year the Council met on ten occasions. Visits of inspection were made in North Auckland, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, and Marlborough districts, and meetings with local bodies in connection with the constitution of additional catchment districts were held in Hamilton, Dunedin, and Roxburgh. Legislation During the last session of Parliament an amendment to the principal Act was passed. Among other things, this provided for the alteration in the constitution of the Council previously mentioned; the management of soil conservation reserves by Catchment Boards; the extension of the purposes of grants or loans by the Council; the delegation of certain powers by Catchment Boards and the amendment of the procedure to be followed in connection with the dissolution of River and Drainage Boards, and the abolition of River and Drainage Districts. It will be necessary to introduce further amendments from time to time as opportunity offers to enable the Act to be fully and efficiently administered.

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