This series contains the correspondence file system used by the Soil Conservation section of the Manawatu Catchment Board (MCB). It was in use from the beginning of the Board in 1945 through to 1964 when it was replaced by a new file system.
As originally set up in 1945, the files of the Manawatu Catchment Board were split between three departments: Administration, Engineering and Soil Conservation. Around 1964 these three systems were integrated to form one file series for the whole Board. Most of the existing files were renumbered into the new system, which was partly based on the old Engineering classification. Inactive files which had been closed prior to this were generally not renumbered. The files in this series are the remnants of the Soil Conservation files.
The files contain both inwards and outwards correspondence and may also contain maps, plans, photographs and ephemera. They provide evidence of the operational, legislative and administrative actions of the Soil Conservation section of the Manawatu Catchment Board. The files cover such topics as erosion control, weed control, afforestation other soil conservation topics.
The files are based on the 'Series System' (or multiple number subject system) where consecutive numbers are allotted to principal subjects. The principal subjects are subdivided by the addition of bar numbers.
The following sub series were used by this file system:
3/- Soil Conservation and Erosion (now 33/-)
4/- Drainage
5/- Afforestation
6/- Weed Control
7/- Hydrological Records
8/- Drainage (Outside District)
Following the reorganisation of the files in the 1960s all of the former 3/- files were renumbered as 33/- files and they now form part of series HRC 00022.
In the early 1990s the files were all removed from their covers and were put into Codafile folders. The front cover of the original files was retained and also placed on file.