Coroner Disbelieves Dye Cargo Caused Watersider's Death

Grey River Argus, 6 October 1949, Page 8

Coroner Disbelieves Dye Cargo Caused Watersider's Death

F.A. AUCKLAND, October 5. “I have been impressed in this inquiry by the evidence of the pathologist” said Coroner Addison, when an inquest into the death of a waterside worker, Daniel Whooley, aged 3-1, single, was concluded. Whooley died in Auckland Hospital on July 26. Alfred Griffiths, a member of the Waterside 'Workers’ Union, said he was one of a gang working the Empire Star on July 12. During unloading operations it was found necessary to shift a drum which was lying on its side with its lid against the side of the ship. When the drum was turned round the lid came off, and the contents, brown powder, formed a cloud in th e hold. The drum was labelled “aniline dye”. In a matter of minutes later, the mouths and nostrils of the men had turned a greenish colour. Deceased was within an arm’s reach of the drum, and it was about level with his eyes when the lid came off.

Kenneth Griffin, Government Analyst, said that the dye was not poison, either under the Poisons Act or in the general use of the term, but, like many drugs and chemicals, it could be harmful if taken in quantity. There was no trace of poison in the deceased’s stomach or its contents. The dye in question turned a brilliant green when moistened. It was possible that line powder received by the deceased constituted a dangerous dose. Assuming it was a dangerous dose, he was unable to say when the effects would manifest themselves.

Francis John Cairns, pathologist, stated in a report, that there was no evidence that poison had contributed in any way to the cause of death, which, in his opinion, was due to idiopathic cerebral haemorrhage and acute broncho pneumonia.

The Coroner said the deceased had apparently showed no signs of illhealth until eight days after the incident on the vessel. He had continued working until July 23. The other members of the gang who had been exposed to the dye had suffered little or no ill-effects.

A. verdict in accordance with the pathologist’s report, was returned.