THIS OTHER SIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 154, 30 June 1911, Page 5

THIS OTHER SIDE.

VVOKK. UJ* , 'itiH FAST. Inquiries made this ' jiorning by a "Star" reporter on the subject of Inspector Haynes' report go to show that there has not been quite the apathy on the part of the authorities that "first reading of the report would impel in the mind of the reader. There is a difficulty which faced, the inquiring person in the fact that the persons fro-m wflom first-hand information is available aro in Government employ, and are consequently not at liberty to meet charges or statements that do not come through official channels. This difficulty rather hampers the full and free vo'ntilation of the subject, but from outside sources the reporter was ahl<> to glean s-jrae facts and opinions which are oi interest. in the iirst place it appears that mucn work has been done by the authorities which has not been made public, but has been taken as routine business. For instance, the Pressman has gathered that less than five years tcjo the Hualuh Department authority, in company with tne Inspector of Factories, mado an exhaustive inspection of the business places of the city carried on as butcheries, bakeries and dining-rooms, and reported thereon. As a result, proprietors were called on to make quite a number of renovations and redistribution of <-aniiarv conveniences, kitchens, etc., while in sev-

eral cases places of business were shut - up altogether. Kven in some of the pre- ' tentious shops objectionable ieatures i were discovered, and it was seen that i these were rectified. So far as can be ascertained, considerably more than 100 eating houses, tea-rooms and butchers' shops were visited and reported upon, j and in almost every instance alterations ; were demanded, some of these amounting to radical structural changes. Following this, there has been periodic inspection, and equally periodic demands for improvements. This is stated in support of the view that the health inspectors and the factory inspector have not been allowing their wide powers to rust. In some outside quarters, in fact, the opinion is held that these powers have been used to the point of officiousness. >So far as the police are concerned, Inspector Cullen pointed out that the reports to the Licensing Bench have always covered the sanitary conditions of licensed houses. What the public was not aware ot, he said, was that, where, conditions existed that did nnt constitute a positive nuisance, but which were oojectionable the Health Department was notilied and took the matter in hand. The police aim the Public Health Department, acting in co-operation, thus did a great deai that was not heard of by the putaSOME MUNICIPAL BLAME. It was not contended that the condi[fen* ejeeiiled in particular places by,

Mr. Haynes were wrong or exaggerated, but it was implied that these conditions were being gradually and unostentatiously remedied by the authoriiios as at present constituted, and that tho cleaning up would be more expeditiously dono with more vigilance and co-operation on the part of the municipal authorities. It was also remarked that after the raid of five years apo i>. tendency to reversion was fostered by the City Council permitting businesses in food' lor human consumption to be opened in unsuitable and insanitary buildings. Thus it was argued that the municipal authorities had to bear a share of tho burden of blame for the conditions now made public. As to the suggested change of consolidating the administrative powers in tho hands of the municipal authority, opinion is divided. In one place it was pointed out that it would be unwise to allow the full power to be in the hands of local men. who would, directly or indirectly be interested persons. It was argued that fhe powers should remain where they would not be subject to local and interested pressure. Then again it was pointed out that cities like Auckland had a constellation of minor boroughs, and if the wide powers suggested were given to one inspector they must, of necessity, be extended to the inspectors of the lesser adjacent bodies Until these boroughs were amalgamated, and the sanitary department was consolidated, with autnonty over the ;vhole area, it would not be an improvement to extend the municipal sanitary powers. The general opinion of "the other side appears to be that Mr. Haynes' suggestions were written without a full knowledge of what work was being done by the other sanitary authorites, and also that there has not been the regular vigilance and co-operation on the part of the municipal sanitary authorities that was desirable.

ANOTHER VIEW. On the other hand, the feeling of Auckland tradesmen appears to be in favour of the course suggested by Mr. Haynes. " The president of the Master Butchers' Association stated that, in his opinion, although the Health Department was doing good work, there was nr-d for reform. His Association desired t spo everything clean and up-to-date, an.l the goods put out in first-class condition for the consumers. He considered that an improvement would be effected wcjre the sanitation of public places under one authority instead of the control being divided, and he also thought that the municipal authority was best situated to wield that control.