MAYOR AND MINISTER

Evening Star, Issue 16908, 4 December 1918, Page 6

MAYOR AND MINISTER

AIR GUN SON’S REPLY TO MR .MASSEY. PUB!.IC OPINION AROUSED. “SOME REMEDY MUST BE- FOUND.” [Per United Pkkss Association.] AUCKLAND, December 3. Replying to Mr Massey, ihc hi..j. ur says that- he is placing I lie maUev n Royal ('■ommisMoi! be line the City Co;,: ■ ■!. Continuing, he said : 1 want to use every possible means of righting Die position without res..rl to law, and J think it will as?'?' the Cabinet and yourself if you know just exactly how matt ers stand hive. 1 I cel it will Lo impossible lor me in an m icial capacity to deal with the Minister of Health at all, and you will readily see how impossible this vrill make the position between the departlii-Ht and the city. In fact, tin- gravity of the situation is such that, some remedy must be f uind, and lo'.ind be/oio .Mr Joseph Ward and y.nirsell leave New Zealand. As tine position now stolid.-;,, la leave Mr Russel! in undisputed control of -save,a 1 department? during the absence of the national leaders would bo nothing less than disastrous to Auckland, and ivjidil inflame public opinion here to danger point. Naturally i feel that nothing short- of an apology from the Minister, given as publicly as the insult, lias -been, will enable me lo resume normal ia lotions with him ; and even such an epologv can not el face the imprevsbons which his action has produced. I canrot, ignore (ho state of public opinion hero, the leave of which I hope you will appreciate: nor can I let the interests of Auckland be jeopardised, as they must- lie if the Minister's action is allowed to pass unchallenged. Con.-ider what steps should be taken. ACTION BV T1 \ R iff HI BOARD. AU : KLAND. December 4. The Harbor Beard approved of a t-yle-grani edit by their chairman to the Prime Miififler proto.-ting against tin “outrage Ul-. and insulting telegram ” sent s.v the Hon. G. W. Russell to the Mayor of Auckland, adding : “hj util it is satisfactorily proved that the Maknra- is a (ae-an ship she wi’l not he- hertned at tlio Auckland wharf.” Th - tehvivm conclude? ; ’T feel sure that- you will insist on the withdrawal of a- gross reflection on the Mayor and City Council.” DEPARTMENTA L IN TIvRFERKN CE R EVENTED. The New Brighton iChristchurch) Council and the .Minister of Lands are also at loggerheads. At Monday night council meeting tho (Mayor (Air Kcoblewhitc} read telegraphic correspondence between himself. the Minister of Lands, and the member for tho district (the Hon. G. W. Russell) with regard to tho tree-cutting policy of tho council. It appeared _ that the South New Brighton Burgesses' Association had approached tho (lovernment, protosting against the council’s policy, with the result that the Lauds Department had investigated. As a result of a vigorous telegraphic protest by the Alayor, the Lands Deportment- had now agreed to suspend any action pending a report. The, Alayor said that there w.-s an important principle involved. Ho could not possibly hold office when a small group like the Booth New Brighton Burgesses’ Asociatiou could got'the ear of the Government and interfere with the council’s work. Neither the Government nor the Burgesses’ Association had -had the courtesy to seek information from tbe council. Either the council were t-o rule their own affairs! or not. Ho for one was not going to bo dictated to by a few disgruntled individuals. Tito Government’s action had been most extraordinary. Ho understood thatAir Skinner, Commissioner of Crown Lands, had made one inspection alone, but that no member of tho council had ha-d an opportunity to accompany Mm. All tho councillors spoke upon tho matter, and supported the action taken by the Mayor, nil agreeing that they should resign had the Government n-ot receded from the action at first taken.

The following motion was unanimously carried : —“ That the action of the Alayor be approved, and that the Under-Secre-tary of Lands bo informed that any action by his department in the matter before the council’s policy and administration have been explained will result in the resignation of the Alayor and council.”