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much greater, and in these areas we suggest the creation of a Rivers Control Authority with the specific powers necessary to handle the channelling and control of rivers in specified areas. The main purpose of these authorities will be to decide what should be done and to levy the rates which will be chargeable on the lands being protected, and, as at present, Government grants should be available. We consider, therefore, that a Rivers Control Authority should consist of representatives of each County, Borough, or City Council in the area, presided over by the District Engineer of the Ministry of Works. As far as possible we consider the heavy engineering work should be carried out by the Ministry of Works, which will be in a position to use the necessary powerful machinery. (iii) Land Conservation The whole subject of land conservation should be placed under the administration of the Department of Lands. At the present time there is in the Lands Department a Land Utilization Section, and since the utilization of land and its conservation are naturally tied together, we feel the Land Utilization Section should be made into a full Land Conservation and Utilization Division, with a suitably qualified and responsible Director. The division, then, as an integral part of the Lands Department, will be responsible for the maintenance of the land in such a condition that it will carry permanent productive pastures and for the devising of any measures necessary to ensure such an end. The programme of land conservation should be carried out with the assistance of a working committee, presided over by the Director-General of Lands or the Assistant Director-General, and comprising also the Director of Land Conservation, an officer of the Department of Agriculture, an officer of the State Forest Service, and two farmers, one from each Island, selected from a panel of names submitted by Federated Farmers. If necessary, an officer of the Ministry of Works should attend when any engineering matters are being discussed. There is no doubt that money will be required for land-conservation work. This should be made available as required. The local application of land-conservation programmes can be left to a local Land Conservation Officer attached to the staff of each Commissioner of Crown Lands, and this officer should have the assistance of a working committee consisting of the Instructor in Agriculture, an officer of the State Forest Service, local farmers, and an officer of the Ministry of Works, if required. Recommendations for grants for land-conservation purposes should be made by this committee to the Lands Department, which should be authorized to approve such grants. (iv) Special Position in the Poverty Bay - East Coast Area One district in New Zealand, however, on account of the nature and magnitude of its problems, will need a more extensive organization. Therefore, a special authority should be set up for this area alone, consisting of representatives of the State Departments concerned, the farmers, and the local authorities, and this authority should be charged with the specific task of recommending to the Lands Department the steps which are necessary in this particular area. The Chairman of this authority should be the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The effects of erosion on the occupation of the land are stated in detail in the section of our report entitled " Condition of the Land " in Part Three following.