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1927. NE W ZEALAN 1).

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SCENERY-PRESERVATION. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1927, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND SCHEDULE OF LANDS ACQUIRED AND RESERVED DURING THE YEAR UNDER THE SCENERY PRESERVATION ACT.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 17 of the, Scenery Preservation Act, 1908.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 30th June, 1927. I have the honour to submit herewith report on scenery-preservation for the year ended 31st March, 1927. I have, &c., J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister in Charge of Scenery-preservation, Wellington.

RE PORT. Legislation. The Scenery Preservation Amendment Act, 1926, contains several provisions which it is hoped will considerably improve the working of the principal Act. Under the amendment the Minister may authorize the taking or killing, as may be found necessary, of animals within scenic reserves, subject to certain stringent provisions. Tt will now be possible to grant permits on suitable conditions for the destruction of wild pigs, deer, &c., in cases where scenic reserves are being damaged by the depredations of such animals. Provision is made for the issue of licenses (including tramway licenses) to occupy portions of scenic reserves for short terms, and it is enacted that any land set apart under any Act for scenic purposes or for the preservation of native flora and fauna may be declared to be a reserve under the Scenery Preservation Act. Power is also conferred on local authorities to contribute towards the cost of acquisition of scenic reserves, and towards the improvement and maintenance of same. Section 26 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1926, makes provision for the transfer of control of certain of the Summit Road scenic reserves from the Summit Road Scenic Reserves Board to the Board of Trustees of the Port Hills - Akaroa Summit Road Public Trust (Incorporated). Arrangements had been made locally that the control of some of the reserves should be transferred to the Trust, and the Scenic Reserves Board had agreed to the proposals. The legislation provides the requisite machinery for the change of control, and confers the necessary powers to enable the new body to carry out its programme of development in the public interests.

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