SHIPPING HOLD=UP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 153, 24 March 1919, Page 6

SHIPPING HOLD=UP

WATERSIDERS STILL DUBIOUS

THE WESTLAND CASE NOT

INFLUENZA

A stop-work meeting of (he Waferside Workers' Union was held on Saturday morning, aim there was no work done on the waterfront in consequence during the hours that the meeting was in progress. It was generally understood that the meeting was held to consider what action should be taken regarding the working of c:(rgo from the Westland, from which ship a member of tho crew was taken to the Hospital, sick, some days ago, but in actual fad a number of' other matters were discussed at the meeting in addition.

The president of the union statetf at the conclusion of the meeting that the decision of the meeting was that the Westland should not be worked until the union had further advice from the Health Department i'f to the nature of the disease from which tho man is suffering. Dr. Valintine, Chief Health Officer, stated last night that the man was suffering from pleurisy, nnd he had been isolated only as a precautionary measure. Since he had bneu in hospital a bacteriological investigation had been made to discover whether there was any evidence of influenza of the virulent type of a few months ago. This bacteriological examination showed that there was no suspicion of influenza in the easo at all. Dr. Valintine said also that the Department had required the isolation of the case because in these times no risk whatever,could be taken. He did not consider that there was the slightest reason why the waterside workers should refuse to work the ship.

The information from the Hospital about the case is that tho patient ia very much better. Tho course that the union will take to-day is not at all clear. All ihis information the union has already had from the Department, and it may be the Department is not in a position to give any moro.