CROWN LANDS AND SURVEYS OFFICE.
55. The work of this office was handicapped perhaps more than that of any other office by the loss of most of pre-war records such as survey sheets and records relating to land let on permit or alienated on long lease.
Many of the pre-war staff did not return to duty and further loss of staff was sustained by the tragic death of Mr. S. C. Collins, Land Surveyor, which occurred on 1st January, 1947, at the hands of bandits. Mr. Collins had joined the Department on transfer from Sierra Leone in April 1946.
Crown Lands.
56. The Secretary of State for the Colonies had directed on 19th May 1944 that until records were re-established, no transfer or change of title of Land should be permitted, and that during the period of the Military Administration no leases on the usual term of years should be issued, but that land should be made available by short-term permit. This prohibition was promulgated by Article 8 of Proclamation No. 6 dated 13th September 1945, and was terminated by Order No. 2 made under that Proclamation on 20th December 1945, except in the case where land had been affected by dealings during the Japanese Occupation. Upon the resumption of civil Government in May 1946 applications for the alienation of Crown Land by long-term lease were accepted, and by the end of the year three lots had been sold by public auction.
57. In order to expedite the carrying out of housing schemes the Secretary of State granted permission for a period of one year from 14th August 1946 for the alienation of Crown Land by private treaty. It was considered that by eliminating speculative competition genuine private interests would be more readily prepared to undertake the expense of the preliminary investigations necessary in the preparation of such housing schemes. No sales by private treaty under this authority had been effected by the end of the year.
58. Government announced on 16th June 1946 its policy in relation to those Crown Leases which were granted during the last century for terms of seventy-five years with no provision as to renewal. Under this announcement new Crown Leases were to be granted, subject to certain conditions, for a term of seventy-five years plus the unexpired portion of the original term. Especially favourable terms were offered to those lessees who applied within one year of the date of the announcement, with a view to securing the early rehabilitation of war-damaged premises or the early full development of their holdings. The terms for the grant of the new leases