MAUI POMARE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1929, Page 6

MAUI POMARE

WHITE CREW SIGNED ON

AUCKLAND, April 15

Thoroughly proofed against any re-cuiTen-e of influenza among the crew, the Gm eminent motor ship Maiii Pom are leaves Auckland to-day with a white crew for Niue Island and Apia, Nine members of the Seamen’s Union, have been signed on as engineers and deck-hands. The Government have not yet announced their policy for the future running of the vessel, but the new hands will be in service for some time and the question of a permanent European crew has been considered. Two of the white officers were discharged from Cintra last evening and about fifteen Islanders will he released Imm isolation to-day or to-morrow. This will leave less than a dozen patients in the temporary hospital. One ease is serious. If the natives who are to he discharged are not taken hv the ship to-day, they will have to he accommodated until they can be repatriated.

The Health Department has exercised a close scrutiny of every ease, and the'Ship lias been exhaustively disinfected and twice fumigated.

Mr \Y. Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Hoard, stated last evening that the Islanders were anxious to return home. They were very susceptible to cold, and while in isolation had inquired for bedding which seemed unnecessary to a European.

In reply to his complaint to the Prime Minister regarding the crew’s quarters, Mr Wallace has received a communication stating that an inquii > fias been made among officers <vl the Department, and that the Maui Pomare’s quarters comply with the Board of Trade regulations. Mr "Wallace states that he would prefer an independent opinion on the health aspect o! the accommodation.