WELLINGTON WHARF TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON WHARF TROUBLE.

EPIDEMIC NOT FORGOTTEN,

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 28. The stoppage on the Wellington wharves to-day came as a surprise, though it might have been anticipated. The waterside workers have stated definitely that they will not work ships on which there has been influenza until satisfied that the danger of infection has passed. The transport Briton arrived on Wednesday with three cases of sickness aboard, and the trouble was reported by the medical officers to be influenza of a mild type. The Briton stayed in the stream until yesterday, the troops and passengers being brought ashore by tenders. But yesterday the Briton was berthed, and to-day the waterside workers not only refused to work the ship, but announced that they would not do any work on the wharves, at all until the Briton was removed to the stream, or the union's doctor reported that the cases were not influenza.

The secretary of the Watersiders' Union, speaking to your correspondent, said the position was quite simple. The waterside workers, had not forgotten the epidemic, and they demanded that proper precaution? should be taken to prevent the reintrodue,tion of influenza into the country: The port medical author Ities had reported that the Briton had influenza aboard. The watersiders therefore had refused to work the ship, and also refused to work on the wharves un» less the ship was taken away from tho berth. •'

■ After tha;announcoment of this decision, the Minister for Public Health stated that the sickness m the Briton was not really influenza at all. The union l was getting a report from its own doctor, arid in the meantime the waterside workers would stand by their demand; wnich, they considered to be in the interests of the comuMity 'as well as of the union. '

The local '■disputes-' committee met this morning:, but failed U change the situation. The wutersidfrs simply repeated that they no't workman infected shi]). The national disputes committee met in the afternoon and made no progross towards a resumption of work The uniqp representatives stated that if tiicre had been influenza aboard the Briton work would be suspended until danger of infection had been removed. The position to-night is unchanged. The union is to meet to-morrow morning to receive the report of its own doctor, who visited Trentham to-day to examine the patients removed frW the transport. • It is a, rather curious coincidence that the watersiders are holding to-night their annual dance, to which they will-be able to go refreshed by a day's holiday.