WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE HAPPY FAMILY. PEACE REIGNS. (Our Special Correspondent) ' WELLINGTON March 11. The official statements published in connection with the transfer of the control' of institutions for returned sick :md wounded soldiers from the Public Health Department to the Defence Department make it abundantly dear that the recent rumours of serious Cabinet dissensions were by no means without foundation. It is plain enough now, though the whole of the facts have not yet heen disclosed, that the Defence Department aud the Health Departmoyf had been at daggers drawn long before the Cabinet was compelled to-intervene. The Minister of Health did not approve of the methods of the Minister of Defence and tlio Minister of Defence warmly resented the inle>ference of tlio Minister of Health, with the result that a great deal of feeling was provoked on hoth sides and many curt memoranda were exchanged between the two Ministers and the members of, their staffs

THE CLIMAX. When the 'position became intolerable, the interests of the country as well as the dignity of Cabinet suffering, Sir Francis Bell, and Mr J. A. Hamm were appointed as a committee to examine the position and upon their report the change in control was made No charge of inefficiency or of lack of attention to the needs of the soldiers was brought against the Health Department, indeed in this respect Mr Russell’s office came out of the investigation with Hying colours, hut the friction -between the two authorities was so grave and so constant, it was determined the system of dual control could not .continue. Under the new arrangement Mr Russell will return to his old position of Minister of Health, having control of all civil hospitals., and sanatoria, and Sir James Allen will resume charge of the military institutions of this description. ' DITTOED SER VICES

In a statement furnished to/the newspapers Mr Russell has madip it quite plain that the Inspector-General of Hospitals has not been contributing to the harmonious working of the system that lias just broken down. “The friction,” the. Minister states,' “has been largely created and augmented by the fact that one Of the officers of the Public Health Department ,tlie In-spector-General of Hospitals, occupied also the position of Director of Military Hospitals, as a Defence appointment-,. the result being that to a very large extent the control of the sick and wounded men has been taken out of my hands and exorcised by officials.” This gives colour to a statement that is. (lading wide credence, here to the effect that the Minister and the Inspector are not on speaking terms, except in their strictest official capacity, and that the public interests are suffering very much in Consequence. However this may be, there is a strong feeling grow ing up against responsible members of the Civil Service being associated with military activities. THE EFFECT

t Just how/ happy Mr (Massey’s “happy family” may remain 110 one can say. In practice Sir .Tames Allen’s control of military hospitals and sanatoria necessarily will mean official control. Sir James is far too much occupied by other pressing matters to give his personal -attention to the hundred and one details Mr Russell has been supervising. Officialism is not in particularly good odour at the present time and if it should fail in the present- instance it will not he spared by the critics. Of course the discussion of these subjects in Cabinet- took a much wider range than can be indicated here. It is rumoured that Ministers had before them a communication impugning the loyalty of one of their number to his colleagues and that this led to the heart-to-heart talk which was not altogether without effect upon the subsequent decisions of the majority. It is quite possible the author of the communication may hear further, as the phrase goes, from the Minister concerned .