THE WATERFRONT-SCARE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 152, 22 March 1919, Page 7

THE WATERFRONT-SCARE

STOP-WOUK .MEETING. TO BE HELD.

Half-an-hour's work by one gang of men was all that was done yesterday in the way of discharging the American cargo steamer Wpstland, which is apparently considered by 'most of the waterside workers to be au "inlluenza ship," notwithstanding the declaration of Mr. J. C. Frew, one of the waterside health inspectors, and a representative of the men, that the vessel was a "clean ship." The agents for the vessel state that the requisite number of workers could have b'een engaged if they, as representatives of the owners of the ship, had been prepared to indemnify the men iii'tlie caso of sickness within a reasonable time after the cessation of vork, but I his the agents were not in a position to agree to. As tho majority of the men employed on the Westlnnd were against working her cargo for tho present, the executive of the union, it is understood, advised the working gang to cease pending a "stopwork" meeting of the union members to be held this morning. At this meeting the doctor's report as to the nature of the sickness of the man in hospital will bo read, and a decision come to whether work shall. be resumed on the vessel.

Yesierday afternoon two full gangs were obtained to unload the case-oil in the Dunsyre, and the work was continued uninterruptedly _ for .the rest of j he day. The Dunsyre is berthed on the other side of the Westland, and wjirk was stopped on the previous day owing to the shin's proximity to the steamer. . The Health Department was informed of the case of the sick wan from the "Wpsiland when he was admitted to the Hospital. A reporter was told yesterday that, bacteriologically, the case does not appear to bo ona t*f iafiueiiza, but_ ill times, such as Hiese it has bopn considered wise to take every possible precaution, conset|iienliv the patient has keen isolated, and will remain" under observation until to-day. . The medical authorities consider that there is no need at ?»resent for apprehension ainontrst the watersiders or-the general public.