CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE
Principal Government Land Agent:
W. L. T. CRUNDEN, J.P., F.R.I.C.S., F.R.S.H., F.I.Arb.
I. L. STANTON, J.P., F.R.I.C.S.
GENERAL
7.01 The demand for land for development continued during the year but the availability of suitable sites for such purposes diminished. This, allied to the flotation of a number of public companies, particularly in the real estate field, resulted in very high prices being realized at public auction sales. The resumption programme in connection with Urban Renewal continued. A Lease Renewal Branch was formed during the year to cope inter alia with the renewal of many leases which expired last year and others which will do so next year. The provision and clearance of sites for all purposes and in particular in connection with Government's expanding development programme has resulted in an increasing workload on the staff of all Branches.
7.02 Included in legislation which was enacted during the year was the Crown Land Ordinance which supersedes certain provisions of Summary Offences Ordinance. The Crown Land Permits issued under the latter have been replaced by Crown Land Licences. The new Ordinance provides greater control over unoccupied Crown Land and facilitates the removal of illegal goods and squatters, functions which form part of the responsibilities of the Crown Lands and Survey Office.
7.03 By its intimate connections with land for all purposes, this office is closely involved both within the Department and with other Government Departments, resulting in considerable demands upon the time of Senior Staff for attendance at committees. The Weekly Land Meeting, with representatives of the Secretariat and the Registrar General's Department, the weekly P.W.D. Land Conference, and the fortnightly Building Conference and Crown Land Conference, handle all cases of sales of private land and special cases where the building on a site is controlled by lease conditions, as well as deciding or advising on policy issues and sites for major Government projects. The other main inter-departmental committees on which officers of this office serve are:
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