ACTION NEEDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 176, 26 July 1940, Page 3

ACTION NEEDED.

ORAKEI VILLAGE.

EXTRAORDINARY POSITION. COUNCIL WITHOUT POWER. Conditions at Orakei settlement were adversely criticised by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, in a report which he presented at a meeting of the Auckland City Council yesterday afternoon. The Mayor said that there was need of remedial measures, and the matter had been referred time and again to the Government without result. Recently an inspection had been made by the chief sanitary inspector, whose report was alarming. The city solicitor had reported that as it was Crown land the relevant provisions of the Health Act did not apply, proceedings would be protracted, and there would be no guarantee of the outcome.

Sir Ernest said that from the time he came into office in 1935 the matter had been constantly before the notice of the Government, and they had waited patiently for something to be done for the people concerned, so that an eyesore or potential disease centre should be removed. His sympathies were with the people of the area, but the limit had been reached, and action should be taken without delay. He could not agree to the matter remaining as it was, but in view of the advice they had received, it was questionable whether action could be taken under the Health Act with any hope of success. It was an extraordinary position, as they had no power at present.

The matter was referred to a spccial committee to take what action was considered necessary.