LAW BRANCH 



TRANSFER Of PATENTS OFFICE TO LAW BRANCH 



Effective October 1, 1961, the Patents Office, which formerly had been 

 attached to the Lands and Surveys Branch, was transferred to the Law Branch 

 in order that the work of that office, which is primarily a legal service, might be 

 brought under the direct supervision of the Supervisor of the Law Branch. 



RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LAW BRANCH 



Counselling: 



Advising upon the legal position of the Department in all matters affecting 

 the Department. Interpretation of Statutes and regulations. 



Preparation of: 



Legislation, regulations, recommendations to Council, agreements, leases, 

 licences, pleadings, office consolidations of statutes and regulations administered 

 by the Department and briefs and memoranda on special subjects. 



Recording of Crown land transactions and preparation of title documents: 



Maintenance of records of Crown land, including sales, leases, licences, 

 cancellations, forfeitures, etc., thereof and advising the public and others on such 

 records; preparation and engrossing of title documents disposing of Crown land, 

 including letters patent, leases and licences of occupation; compilation of statistics 

 and incidental correspondence. 



Other Legal Services: 



Including settlement of claims and disputes, collection of bad accounts, 

 conducting litigation, title searching and conveyancing. 



Legislation 



At the Session of the Legislature which convened on the 22nd day of 

 November, 1961 and prorogued on the 18th day of April, 1962, The Game and 

 Fish Act, 1961-62, The Gananoque Lands Act, 1961-62 and The Provincial 

 Land Tax Act, 1961-62, were enacted and amendments were made to The 

 Conservation Authorities Act, The Crown Timber Act, The Fish Inspection Act, 

 The Forest Fires Prevention Act, The Forestry Act, The Provincial Parks Act, 

 and The Public Lands Act. 



Notes On Legislation 



The Game and Fish Act, 1961-62 



The Game and Fisheries Act, which had been last revised in 1946, was 

 completely rewritten to simplify the Act and to bring it into line with present 

 administrative practices. 



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