DRAINAGE COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 263, 5 November 1937, Page 6

DRAINAGE COMMISSION.

Final decision having been made concerning the drainage scheme for the Auckland metropolitan area, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, has appointed a Commission to consider the constitution, methods of financing and administrative boundaries of the existing Drainage Board. The commissioners are to be Sir Francis Frazer, Dr. M. H. Watt, and Mr. J. VV. Heenan. As Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, Mr. He«nan is peculiarly wellinformed on problems of local body administration and finance, and his knowledge will be valuable to the Commission when it conies to consider "whether it is desirable that any alteration be made in the methods by, or the local authorities from which, the Drainage Board obtains its income." On this question local bodies, which are finding the levies of external Boards —hospital, drainage and fire— increasingly burdensome, will no doubt have a great deal to say. The personnel of the Commission is admirable, but it might be strengthened by the addition of a drainage engineer. In fixing the administrative boundaries it is required to pay attention to 'the present and future drainage requirements" of the area, and on this it may need personal (advice, as well as the guidance it will have from the reports of Mr. H. H. Watkins and of the Commission which has endorsed his scheme.