THE HAPPY FAMILY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1918, Page 2

THE HAPPY FAMILY.

PEACE REIGNS. (From our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, March II

The official .statements published in connection with the transfer of Ihe control of institutions for returned sick and wounded soldiers fro-n {he Public Health Department to till Bei'cucu IKpartmeiiL it abundantly ole;u that the recent rumors of nerioiia Cabinet dissensions were by m» means without foundation. It is plain enough now, though the whole of the facts have not yet been disclosed, that (lie Defence Department and the Health Departme-'t had been at daggers drawn long before the Cabinet was compelled to intervene. 'Hie Minister of Health did not approve of the methods of the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Defence warm, ly resented the interference of the Minister of Health, with the result that a great deal of feeling was provoked on both sides and many curt memoranda exchanged between the (wo Ministers and the members of their staffs.

THE CLIMAX. When the position became intolerable, the interests the country as well as the dignity of Cabinet suffering, Sir Francis Bell and Mr .T. A Hanan were pointed as a committee to examine the position, and upon their report this change in control was made. No change of inefficiency or of lack of attention to the needs of the soldiers was brought against the Health Department, indeed in this respect Mr. Russell's oflW came out of the. investigation with flying colors, but the friction between the two authorities was so grave anil so constant: it was determined the system or dual control could not continue. Under the new arrangement Mr. Russell will return to his old position of Minister of Health, having control of all civil hospitals and sanatoria, and Sir James Allen will resume charge of all military institutions of this description.

DIVIDED SERVICES. In a statement furnished to the newspapers Mr Russell has made it ouite plain that the Inspector-General of Hospitals has not been contributing to the harmonious working of the system that has juSt broken down. "The friction," th* Minister states, "has been largely created and augmented bv the fact that one of the officers of the Public Health Department, the Inspector-General of Hospitals, occupied also the position of Director of Military Hospitals, as a Defence appointment, the result being that to R very large extent the control of sick mid wounded men has been taken out of mv hands and exercised by o'fieials." This gives color to a statement that is finding wide credence here to the effect that the "Minister and the Inspector are not oil speaking terms, oueept in their strictest official capacity, and that the public interests are suffering very much in consequence. However this may be. there is a strong feeling grow'ng up (ip">inst responsible (numbers of the Civu Service being associated villi military Petivities, THK. EFFECT. Just how happy Mr. Massey's "happy family" may remain no one can say In practice Sir James Allen's control of military hospitals and sanatoria necessarily will mean official control. Sir James is far too much occupied liy other pressing matters to <:ive his personal attention to the hundred and one details Mr. Russell has la-en supervising. Officialism is nil in particularly good o'otir lit the present time and if it should fa 5 1 in the present instance it will not be snared by the critics. Of course the discussion of these subjects ill Cabinet, look a much wider range than caa be indicated here. It is rumored that Ministers had before them a communi 'atioii impugning the loyalty of one of their number to his colleagues and that this led to a heart-to-heart talk which was not altogether without effect upon the subsequent decisions of the majority. It is quite possible the author of the communication may hear further, as the phrase goes, from the Minister concerned.