ROTORUA AFFAIRS IN THE HOUSE.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 191, 29 July 1896, Page 2

ROTORUA AFFAIRS IN THE HOUSE.

Eotorua Towjfsmr. The following is tho Hansard report of the discussion on Mr W. Kelly's motion " That there belaid before the House all correspondence between the Government, Dr. Ginders, and Mr Malfrov, from the Ist April, 1893, to the 31st March. 1596. relating to the sanitavy condition of the Rotorua Township, and all other matters in connection with extending and improving the property belonging to the State in the district. Mr J. McKcnzie would ask the honourable gentleman to amend his motion bv inserting words to the effect that all confidential memoranda should not be included in this return. He thought honourable members would understand very well, as well as he could tell them, that in the conducting of some investigations between the Government and their officers there was always some confidential memoranda and reports. He believed there were confidential memoranda which passed between the Government and these two prentlemen. Honorable members would not expect these officers to give the Government confidential reports and information if they Iraew that their reports were liable to be laid on tho table and made the subject of inquiry. Now, the honourable member knew perfectly well that, witn regard to the district of Eotorua and the Sanatorium, something might have occurred to demand inquiry, and that the officer

there might have been requested by the Government to report upon it, and that such report should not be made public. He would ask the honourable member either to withdraw the motion or to aI meud it in the direction he had suggested I and if this were done he would be only too glad to supply all the information he could on the subject. Mr Seddon would ask the honourable member to withdraw the motion for another reason. It was admitted the sanitary condition of the place was not what it ought to be; but, whilst the condition of thinps was unsatisfactory, it was a question whether it would be wise to publish departmental reports. That was a view of the question which the honourable member mighl consider. A public officer had deemi i it his duty to call the attention of the (.uthorities to what he considered an undesirable state of things from u sanitary standpoint. If reports of th's kin.i got inoireulation throughout the world they would have an injurious fcifcct. In the meantime, steps were being taken to improve the sanitary condition of the place. Mr T. Mackenzie thought that, besides looking into the sanitary condition of the township, there should be a full investigation into the whole working of the Sanatorium and the manner in which the medical officer treated his patients. Mr J. McKenzie.—We are doing that. Mr T. Mackenzie said he was glad to hear it, and glad to hear there was a prospect of good being done to the people who went to Rotorua for treatment. Mr W. Kelly said he did not want docu- j ments of a confidential nature disclosed. Ho merely asked for any correspondence I that had passed between the Government I ami the two gentlemen named with regard to the sanitary condition of the township. He was prepared to accept what the Minister of Linds suggested—namely, to exclude the confidential correspondence. Motion negatived.