ANUKA HELD UP

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10280, 15 May 1919, Page 7

ANUKA HELD UP

.£ CREW S PROTEST*

demand for transfer of QUARANTINED PATIENTS.

The Union Company’s intcr-State passenger steamer Manuka, which-was to hare left Wellington last evening foi Sydney, was hold up owing to the crew’s objection to proceeding to sea until three of their shipmates, who are in quarantine in Somes island, are iemoved to a hospital cn the mainland. They took up this attitude owing to what they consider the totally unlit condition ‘of the quarantine accomnvoAlston on Somes Island, which tho> beHere eadcangers .die lives of the patients. As the Health Department conniored it unsafe to move the three patents yesterday, and the Manukas -raw were determined not to give nay the point, th'o vessel, remains tied p at the wharf. The first ■ indication 01 any trouble ,ith the crow was when two of their uipmates who were released from uaruntme yesterday rejoined the liinuka ahd told their fellow-workmen an conditions existing in the quaranno hospital. They stated that all the itients taken from the Manuka, when Huenza was -first reported on tho - a l of the vessel at Wellington, • placed in a large hut (the. condi’of which was reported in yester- ; “New Zealand Times”). The .were indignant, and deputed one *lr number to wait upon Captain master of the Manuka, and inhim that until the three remaining its were removed from the island al the crew would decline to proto sea. . The spokesman delivered ■•esaage to the captain at 10 a.m. V. 30 o’clocq last evening a mass qg of members of every depart* of the Manuka’s crew was held rd, and as the three patients had een removed from the island, the 'company decided to stand loyally Aier and refuse id proceed to sea.

. 8.30 p.m. the crew walked on to the wharf, excepting only tho men who wore required to do necessary work on tho vessel, The crew discussed the position among themselves, and ultimately those firemen, seamen, and stewards who live in Wellington went to their homes. The Manuka then being quite inadequately'manned, nothing else remained but to postpone her departure for Sydney until midday to-day. * A large crowd of passengers embarked yesterday afternoon. Included in those proceeding to Sydney are a considerable, number of people who arrived in Auckland last, week by the Alakura from Vancouver. The general attitude of the passengers was sympathetic with tho crew-„, althougha proportion were greatly ' annoyed' at’ the inconvenience of being delayed in Wellington. Member! or the crew who were in quarantine' M "contacts” were indignant that there was no staff to act as bearers and gravediggers for the dead. This work had to be performed by the quarantined men and necessitated their going into the sick ward and afterwards mixing again, without any disinfecting, among those wlio were” well. They claim*thatf l whole 'management and accommodation shows Van "outrage- ' ’~|t of consideration” for the lives se on the island.