Inquiry Into Death of Watersider

Chronicle (Levin), 6 October 1949, Page 5

Inquiry Into Death of Watersider

AUCKLAND, Oct. 5. "I have been impressed in this inquiry by the evidence of the pathologist," said the coroner, Mr. Addison, when the inquest into the death of a, waterside worker, Daniel Whooley, aged 34, single, was concluded. Whooley died in the Auckland Hospital on July 20. Alfred Griffiths, a member of the Waterside Workers' Union, said he was one of a gang working the Empire Star on July 12. During unloading operations it was found necessary to shift a drum which was lying on its side with its lid against the side of the ship. When, the drum was turned round, the lid came off and the contents, a brown powder, formed a cloud in the hold. The drum was labelled "aniline dye." In a matter of minutes later the mouths and nostrils of the men had turned a greenish colour. Deceased was within an arm's reach of the drum and it was about level with his eyes when the lid came off. Kenneth Griffin, Government analyst, said the~dye was not a poisOn either under the Poisons Aet or in the general use of the term, blit like many drugs and chemicals it conld be harmful if taken in quantity. There was no trace of poison in deceased 's stomach or its contents. The dye in question turned a brilliant green when moistened. It was possible the fine powder received by deceased eonstituted a dangerous dose. Assuming it was a dangerous dose, he was unable to say when the effects would manifest .themselves. Francis John Cairns, pathologist, stated in a r'eport that there was no evidence that poison had contributed in any way to the cause of death which, in his opinion, was due to idiopathic eerebral haemorrhage and hcute .brOncho-pneumonia. The coroner said deceased had apparently shown no signs of ill health until eight days after the incideiLt on

the vessel. He had continued working until July 23, Other members of the gang who had been exposed t-o the dye had suffered little or no ill effects. A verdict in accordanee with the pathologist *s report was raturned.