Document k6j4p62DQoqgQajknJoVaEKME

FILE NAME Colonial Sugar Refinery CSR DATE 1961 Sept 25 DOC CSR078 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Letter to Dr. Rennie RE Wittenoom Asbestosis & Worker Safety Concerns with References to Drs Letham & McNulty and Medical Case Details Dr. S. Hayward Ronnie 183 acquario Street SHINEY NJ.K. NJ.K. F.R.C.P. F.R.C.P. F.R.A.C.P. F.R.A.C.P. 25th September 1961 I am both very surprised and very disappointed with your letter of 7th September You ought to no knoww ell eno to ku nowg thah t I start making a fase until I am very sure of my facts I have sont a copy of your letter to McNulty and to Letham and have asked them to provide you with such farther infoar s ym ou a seskti theo y hn ave cop so i copie es s of their replies I have in the meantime extended my enquiries to other sources Heusoll and Davidson Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of Public Health both speak of Wittenoon in blasphemous terme - a festering sore was one of the choicer expressions which came into the conversation Bob Elphick the very efficient Medical Superintendent of the Perth Chast Hospital tells me that he has seen more serious chest Vitft romeVin tte enn en during the past five years than he has seen from all the gold mines of Yestern Australia in the past fifteen years Purely by chance the State Government Insurance Office asked me three days ago to examine is hospital one gs a Yugoslav of 42. This man came to Australia in 1951 apparently in good health He workoenda farm in New South Wales for two years and thereafter in the timber industry in Western Australia for two years He was still apparently in good health in 1955 when he was so unfortunate as to take a Job at Wittenoom His chest ray in that year I have seen it was perfectly clear In 1958 his chest ray showed gross akbostatic changes He is now dying of abbestosis in very considerable distress in the Chest Hospital - it is doubtful if ho will live more than a fow weeks I think if the officers of at the ... whose rather song and uatisfied statomonts to you are quoted in your first paragraph were to be compelled to look larkovic and to bear his struggling for breath they would be a little less satisfied that they have gone as far as they can with the present knowlodge Br Lethem has looked up the records of those coses of chest disease which have been sent to Perth from Wittencom during the years 1956 61 Ne Tins no for traced 26 cases which he clanxifica su . Asbestosia Corcceccccsevesesenesn rahahle asbostoaia acecseovesese 12 3 1s Filicosia SCOCCCHEROS ESO ES EOTESEOS Probable allicosis Cer osersoscososn 4 one of thou has added taber- culosis 10 neuro silicosis an ashistoria t Totel 28 N. PLAINTIFF'S Bayone EXHIBIT Bayonne Bayonne PENGAD 103470 103470 PENGAD PENGAD JP JP 37/6 ilr.ll. Naynard lennia 25th September 1961 I have myself seon the rays of 6 of these cases and enn shtain access to the rest I recall that when I was interviewing Mr. Allan he told as that in the twelve years he had been at Wittescom less than 10 cases of dusting had been brought to his notice - I noted this in my report to you If one takes this statement puts it alongside the information with which you have been supplied in Sydney and then on the other hand casta a glance at the figures supplied by Lethem one comes up with the feeling either that the responsible officers of the Company have the entrich instinct very strongly developed or that the comment in my letter which you quoted back to me and to which you took considerable exception is nevertheless emply justified Hy dear Ted this matter cannot possibly be allowed to rest I gather from the senior Health Authorities that they have been some considerable time to get the Compantyo realise and to remedy situation - so far without much effect It would obviously be much satisfactory the Company took the necessary action - which anggest should start with an inspection by yourself and by a qualified qualified ventilation engineor After exsuining the svidence which has bom produced for you I find it very difficult to believe reputable publie Company could remain in its apparently satisfied state and continue to allow the asbestos mining industry to go on killing man unfortunate enough to be employed in it If however the present situation is to remain unaltered . I would feel it my bounddutoy n to bring the mattetro the personal attention of the realer I would much prefer not to have to do this I don't want to cause worry and possible distress to the very good friend of mine named Ronnie and I prefer not to start a bout of public sad slinging Surely you will come and see for yourself - following which I am quite confident any further action on wy part would be unnecessary Very sincerely