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Assisted in many cases by volunteer labour, Domain Boards are now commencing to overtake arrears of maintenance and development work which was suspended during the war years. During recent years there has been a considerable increase in the funds made available by Parliament for the administration and improvement of domain lands. However, owing to shortage of labour and difficulty in securing supplies of essential materials, it has not been possible to proceed with all schemes and projects for which Government assistance has been made available. Attention was drawn in last year's report to the increasing use of domain lands for camping purposes. It is pleasing to record that Domain Boards in general are fully alive to the necessity and desirability of fostering and meeting present-day demands for modernized camping-grounds. Shortages of essential materials have prevented some camping-ground schemes being fully implemented, but in several instances Domain Boards, by the exercise of considerable ingenuity and resource, have been able to effect extensions to and modernizations of camping facilities within the limits of available materials. Legislation, was passed last session as section 20 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1947, authorizing Boards in control of domains of not less than 10 acres to appropriate and use, with the prior consent of the Minister of Lands, any part of the domain as a site for a caretaker's residence. Experience has shown that on many of our larger domains it is desirable and necessary for a caretaker to reside within the precincts of the domain, so as to be in a position to render more efficient service to the public, protect the property under his care, and prevent vandalism. Numerous leasing proposals were submitted by Domain Boards during the year. These were fully investigated before approval was given to the issue of leases. Domain Boards generally appreciate the advantage of being able to ask for advice, and assistance in this important phase of administration of domain lands. As at 31st March, 1948, the total number of public domains administered under the provisions of Part II of the Public Reserves, Domains, and National Parks Act, 1928, was 827, covering a total area of 80,084 acres. Forty-six of these domains are controlled by various Commissioners of Crown Lands, 302 are administered by local authorities acting as Domain Boards, and the remaining 479 are under the control of local Boards. Eleven new domains, with a total area of 78 acres, were reserved and brought under Part II of the Act during the year. Additions totalling 103 acres were also made to fourteen existing Domains. Brief mention may be made of the new domains constituted during the year, as follows The Glenbrook Beach Domain, area 2J acres, is situated at Grlenbrook, on the Manukau Harbour, 36 miles south-west of Auckland. This reserve will provide a recreation area for the large number of visitors to the seaside in that locality. The Whangamata Domain, containing an area of 17 acres, is on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, some 21 miles north of Waihi. This reserve is used for camping, picnics, and general recreation. The Onepu Domain, of 8|- acres, is near Te Teko, some 17 miles south from Whakatane. It comprises flat land, centrally situated, and will be used for general recreation purposes by the people of the district.

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