MOTUIHI AS DOMAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 973, 16 May 1930, Page 16

MOTUIHI AS DOMAIN

COUNCIL TO CONTROL ISLAND j GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL The information that it was proposed to constitute the major part of Motuihi Island as a public domain and to appoint the council as a Domain Board, to have the control and management, was conveyed to the City Council last evening in a letter from the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy. The Minister recalled that the ultimate objective was to make the whole of the island a marine park, but pointed out that, in time of emergency, the Crown might require to obtain immediate possession of the land for quarantine, internment or other purposes WIDER POWERS “Following representations to me that the council required wider powers of control than are provided under the Domains Act, and with a desire to give a satisfactory tenure, I have had the whole position thoroughly investigated,” the letter continued. “I find that it has always been the policy of the Government to retain the ownership of islands in the hands of the Crown, and, so far as recreation areas are concerned, it has been the general policy to retain the actual ownership, while granting extensive powers of control to local bodies or private persons acting as domain boards.”

The Parks Committee expressed appreciation of the Minister’s action and the council agreed with its recommendations that the Government be asked to arrange for the proclamation of that portion of Motuihi Island not at present used by the Health Department, and to the east of the fence erected by the council as a public domain; also that the council promote a local Bill during the forthcoming session of Parliament with a view to obtaining such powers as considered desirable.