MINISTER'S STATEMENTS RESENTED

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 57, 2 December 1918, Page 4

MINISTER'S STATEMENTS RESENTED

AUCKLAND SANITATION AND 'I HE EPIDEMIC. By Tclesi'aim.— Press Association. Auckland, November 30. A special meeting of the City Council, nt which a number of citizens were present, including members of the Hospital Board, passed the following resolution:— "We desire to protest i_n the strongest manner again-"! the most unwarrontiible attack on the Mavor of Auckland by the .Minister of Public Health, as published in this morning's paper. We unhesitatingly s-uy the Mayor has, in the face ol very serious difficulties, had only one duty before him, the preservation of the health of the community and strengthening of the hands of Dr. I'rongley against the interference of the Minister when that officer took such steps as he consid-. ered necessary to protect the inhabitants of the city and districts. We regret that the Minister, in his telegram to the Mayor, evidently forgot he was a Minister' of the Crown by the nature of the language used, which was unworthy of a Cabinet Minister. We protest against tho unfounded charges against the Mayor and corporation, against alleged civic neglect, incompetence, and mismanagement leading to the deaths of a large number of citizens. We believe we are speaking the minds of the -whole population when we say that His Worship's reputation for ability and devotion to dutv stands very high in this city and province. We desire, lo record our unabated confidence in the Mayor, and endorse his actions in doing all he can to prevent the berthing of tho Makura if she is an infected ship, and we demand the withdrawal of tho .telegram by the Minister, or, if not, that Parliament set' up a Commission to inquire into the truth of tho charges made by the Minister." After the meeting three members of the Hospital Board waited on Mr. Heather, chairman of the Harbour' Hoard, who is indisposed, requesting that in the event of any sickness at all on the Makura that the ship bo not berthed by the harbour officers. The chairman'agreed, and instructed the harbourmaster that if the ship be found to have sickness on board she. be not berthed in any circumstances.