MAYOR AND MINISTER.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 63, 14 March 1919, Page 4

MAYOR AND MINISTER.

THE EPIDEMIC INCIDENT. HON". RUSSELL'S EXPLANATION, (B. Tclesraph.—Press Association.? I WKLUXGTOX, this day. I The Hon. G. W. Kussell, eontimu'.lns statement regarding the influenza epidemic before the (on,mission to-day submitted a series of articles which appeared in the Auckland newspapers showing there were dirty slums in that city when lhe epidemic was ra-nnir Thcs,. extract .. he said, were the dation and, he claimed, the justification of the telogi-a-,,, which he sent to the Mayor of Auckland, to which teleTam so much exception had been taken." The chairman reserved, in the meantime, the question whether these e_I tracts were admissible as evidence. The [Minister then asked whether, in the 'event of the printed matter being ruled out. the reporters who wrote .should be summoned before the Commit--sion to give evidence. This the clmi r . man said could not be done. The graeriJ question uf the admisisibility of all this matter was discussed jby tue Commission in eummittee.

\\ hen the Commission resumed, tlie Minister said he based his statements ia the telegram to the Mayor of Auckland on information conveyed to him' in Auckland and on articl-6 appearin- j« the Auckland papers. So nntch Was h» impressed with the seriousness of thin.* in Auckland that he dispatched I* Frengley to Auckland at a few hoursnotice, and a day „,- two afterward* went to Auckland himself. Krom what he saw there he was satisfied thatthe organisation developed by the Mayor and the citizens was very efficient __ c work of the -Mayor and his committee* was beyond ali praise. 11.. wished . say this as a matter of justice. -n,. -Minister said it was easy to be wis. after events, and he would be a f oo uj! Minister for Public Health who TouM not have learned some lcs,oi,s f,. m tie experience of the epidemic.