QUARANTINE TROUBLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 912, 4 March 1930, Page 9

QUARANTINE TROUBLE

DENIAL OF WOMAN’S STORY AORANGFS SAILING DATE SYDNEY, Monday, A story told by Mrs. Walsh to the effect that a riot was narrowly averted yesterday at the quarantine station where the majority of the Aorangi’s passengers are detained is denied by the chief quarantine officer, Dr. A. J. Metcalfe. Dr. Metcalfe says there is no truth ia the statement published to the effect that a number of passengers tried to break quarantine. The rumour was possibly due to the fact that the police had to disperse a crowd of people who had gathered outside the main gate. They were conversing with a man in quarantine and he reftised to return when he was spoken to. The passengers in detention were happy at the time bathing in the sea or on the beach playing various games. Fifteen more of the passengers and 24 members of the Aorangi’s crew were released today. The remainder are said to be likely to remain in quarantine until next Monday. The liner is to sail for Vancouver, via ports, on Thursday. Officials of the Union Company explain that the meals in quarantine are the same as those served on hoard the Aorangi except that on the day the passengers ai-rived at the quarantine station a cold meal was providedham, lamb, mutton, and salads. It was obviously impossible to provide a hot meal that evening as it was not known how long the niedical examination would take.