o—lo

by persons or companies of huts, hostels, accommodation-houses, &c. ; and they may let or lease any such buildings, or lease with the consent of the Government -sites for such buildings. The public have free right of entry to the national parks. There are alpine and mountain club huts on some of >the parks, and applications by clubs for sites for such buildings are willingly granted by the Boards, subject to reasonable conditions. The Boards are not allowed to fell or to authorize the felling of any native trees without the approval of the Governor-General in Council. Camping is allowed in the parks under proper conditions. By-laws 011 this subject usually provide that persons wishing to camp in a national park shall apply to the Ranger or Secretary for assignment to camping-sites, and that campers shall pay such fees or charges as may from time to time be fixed by the Board concerned. Finance The question of finance is rather a difficult one. In the case of Peel Forest certain local authorities are entitled to representation on the Board, provided they make a small annual contribution to its funds ; but in the case of the other Boards .their funds Consist of— ■' (a.) All monevs accruing in respect of the parks, penalties, fees, &c. (b) All moneys from time to time appropriated by Parliament for their purposes. (e) All moneys from time to time contributed to the Boards by local authorities out of their general funds. (d) All other moneys received by the Boards from any source, including rents derived from leases and tenancies. . The Boards have borrowing-powers, subject to the approval of the Government -Loans Board, for the purpose of carrying out park improvements, and they may pledge as security for any loan their funds, property, or revenue. This does not permit of,the pledging of any land comprised in the parks as part of the security. The park lands remain vested in the Crown as permanent reserves. Grants by the Government from time to time for the development of the parks are provided by way of direct appropriation out of the Consolidated Fund. Any grants by local bodies are made out of their general funds provided by way of local rates. There are no fixed annual grants or subsidies either out of Crown or local-body revenue, although an endeavour is being made in the case of Egmont, where there are special problems connected with the preservation of the forest on Mount Egmont, to provide for a fixed annual grant by the Government, subject to certain contributions to be made by the local authorities of the district. There is, however, a growing realization that the national parks are properly the concern of the State. New Parks and Additions It is probable that additions will be made from time to time to existing parks, and that new ones will be created. Land may be purchased for national park purposes, and under Part 111 of the 1928 Act the Governor-General in Council may constitute as a national park any land coming within the following classes (a) Land purchased for the purpose. (b) Crown land subject to the Land Act, 1948. • (c) State forests subject to the Forests Act, 1949. (d) Public reserves subject to Part I of the Public Reserves, Domains, and National Parks Act, 19.28. (e) Public domains subject to Part II of the last-mentioned Act. (/) Scenic reserves subject to the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908.

7