NATURE RESERVES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.30 p.m.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, there are about 7,000 acres of land designated as "Nature Reserves" under the Nature Reserves Act. This Bill proposes to amend the Act so as to reorganise and to strengthen the Board of Management constituted under section 5 of the Act. The amendment provides for the Board of Management to consist of a trustee as Chairman to be appointed by the Minister and not less than six but not more than nine other trustees, two of whom shall be appointed by the President and the others by the Minister.

A new section 5A, under clause 4 of the Bill, empowers the Board to appoint committees and to delegate its powers, functions and duties.

Clause 5 amends section 14 so as to enhance the penalty for offences committed under the Act, in order to deter trespassers from using these Reserves for illegal purposes; some like to fish, some like to camp, while others like to shoot animals or to cut down trees for firewood. Such activities in these Reserves must be prevented.

Sir, I beg to move,

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr E. W. Barker].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.