SEAMEN POISONED

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1936, Page 5

SEAMEN POISONED

(VOLUNTEER CREW , . • ; -jV ;• ' : i • ' I ; '. MELBOURNE POLICE INQUIRY* ■ ■ ■■• ’■ ■■■;/■,. i (Australian. Press Association). (Received this day at 10.30 a.m.) ./ SYDNEY.May 27. The Melbourne investigating the poisoning by arsenic of five volunteer seamen on the Tasmanian steamer, Nairana, on May 15, all of whom have now recovered. -Senator Brennan, acting-Attorney General, made this statement when . replying to a deputation. -from/the Australian Council of Trades /Unions, which complained that the Nairana •left port under-manned on that'date. Senator Brennan pointed;, out that several of the volunteer crew became ill after partaking of soup : on board, and were removed’to the hospital. A. a subsequent analysis .of the spup revealed the presence of arsenic./U- . . /- Senator Brennan added that the master of the Nairana attemptedlto obtain substitutes for the sick men but was he sailed.jvith more than 1 four-firths of. the usual ■ crew, as permitted by the Navigation Act in cases of emergency. v

Senator Brennan told the deputation there was no'hope of the‘licensing ‘of seamen being lifted. UNION SECRETARY CENSURED KEENAN ASKED TO RESIGN j | SYDNEY,'May 27. , ) Members of the Seamen’s Union, at a mass meeting, passed a resolution of “no confidence” in the-general secretary, Mr J. Keenan, who led the recent shipping strike, and called upon him to resign. The resolution expressed the opinion that his presence in Melbourne, whiere he tried to reorganise the members and to prevent the registration of • a Volunteer' Seamen’s Union, “was more of a hindrance than an asset to our Union.” :. ’// ; ./ >.-■/ - The former general secretary,'.TacobJohnson, was present.— He told the meeting that he had definite information that, without Mr Keenan, at least.7s per . cent-of the seamen - could look forward to better treatment from the shipowners, . ••- -- -

KEENAN IGNORES;.DECISION (Received this dav.at 11 S.m.) • MELBOURNE, May 28. Mr Keenan, who is at present in Melbourne, has declared that. he. intends to ignore the 'Sydney Union’s' .decision calling on him to resign, as the meeting was not a representative one. ,