BERTHING OF NIAGARA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17256, 4 September 1919, Page 6

BERTHING OF NIAGARA.

PROTEST BY WATERSIDERS.

REPLY BY THE MINI3TER.

ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS

A copy of the resolution passed at & meeting of the Waterside Workers' Union on Tuesday concerning, the action of the port health officer at Auckland in allowing the Mainari and Niagara to berth, was sent to the Minister for Health. A reply was received yesterday from Sir Fr.mcis Bell, that the public health officers would take all necessary precautions in regard to the Niagara and oversea vessels.

The officials of the Waterside Workers' Union state that by their refusal to wor'; the Niagara until seven days after ?he> left Sydney they are only taking precautions to protect the general public- They state that owing to the small number of ships in port between 600 and 700 members of the onion are idle. At least 120 could be employed at the Niagara. The waterside workers, on the berthing of the Niagara, resolved to adhere to a previous resolution that they would not work any vessel from an infected port until seven days after the ship left such port. The seven days in the case of the Niagara will expire this evening.

QUESTION IK PABUAHEHT. A STATEMENT PROMISED. [by telegraph.—special. REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The Prime Minister was asked this afternoon whether it was true that the port health officer had allowed the Mamari to berth at Auckland, and that after 11 passengers had been quarantined the remainder bad been allowed' to disembark. The questioner, Mr. H. E* Holland (Grey) asked further whether the Prime Minister had received a protest from the waterside workers at Auckland regarding the berthing of the Niagara. Mr. Massey replied that he had no in>formation on the points raised, but if the question were put on the Order Paper he would inquire and make a statement on the subject.

PATIENT AT MOTUIHI.

MARKED IMPROVEMENT SHOWN

The steward from the Niagara who was removed from the vessel on Tuesday and taken to the Motudhi Island quarantine station suffering from a mild attack of influenza, was yesterday reported to be very much improved, judging by a fall in temperature. The two " contacts" -who were taken to Motuihi with him, have shown no further developments and will probably be released from quarantine this week.