THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 59, 4 December 1918, Page 4

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND AUCKLAND

CABINET TO CONSIDER REQUEST TOR ROYAL COMMISSION. Uy Telegraph.—Press. Association. Auckland, December 3. Tho Premier has sent a telegram to the Mayor regretting the unpleasantness between the authorities in view of the magnificent work accomplished during tho epidemic, and has promised to place before Cabinet the request for a Royal Commission.

» MR. GUNSON EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS TO ME. MASSEY. Auckland, December 8. Replying to Mr. Massey, the Mayor says he is placing the matter of" a Royal Commission before the City Council. Mr. (iunsoii continues: "I want to use every possible means of righting the position without resort to law, mid I think it will assist Cabinet' and yourself if you know just exactly how matters stand here. 1 feel it would be impossible for me in any official capacity to deal with the Minister of Public Health at all, and you will readily see how impossible this will make the position between the Department and the city. In fact, the gravity of the situation is such that some remedy must be found, and found before Sir Joseph Wnrd and yourself leave New Zealand. As the position now stands, to leave Mr. Russell in undisputed control of several Departments during the absence of tho National leaders would be nothing less than disastrous to Auckland, and would inflame public opinion here to danger point. Nttturally, 1 feel that nothing short of an apology from the Minister, given as publicly as the insult has been, will enable mo to resume normal relations with him, and.even such an anologv can. not efface tho impressions Vlijcli his action lias produced. I cannot ignoro the state of public opinion here, the force of which T ho»e you will appreciate. Nor can I let the interests of Auckland be jeopardised, as they must be if the Minister's action is allowed to puss unchallenged."

In connection with the dispute between the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. .1. 11. Gun*on) and the Minister of Public Henllli (Hon. G. W. Hussc-11, regarding the sanitary condition of the northern city, the Minister informed a Dominion representative last iiipht Hint he had received a number of letters from residents ff Auckland thanking; him for tliu services ho hnd rendered to the people of that city by directing pointed attention to the necessity of improving, its sanitary and housing conditions.