“EXPLOSION” THREATS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30453, 29 May 1964, Page 12

“EXPLOSION” THREATS

’Phone Calls At Lyttelton

Two telephone calls by a man saying that he had put gelignite round the waterfront and that there would be a big blow-up at 3 p.m. were made in Lyttelton yesterday. The caller telephoned “The Press” office in Lyttelton in the morning and told a reporter that he put six sticks of gelignite round harbour board property. He wanted “no scandal” and did not want the police informed. The caller said that his friends were happy because he had been reinstated in his job with the Lyttelton Harbour Board. He then rang off. The police and the Harbourmaster (Captain A. R. Champion) were informed, and the waterfront was searched.

During the lunch hour, the caller, believed to be the same man, telephoned the waterfront cafeteria at No. 6 wharf. He told the waitress who answered that there would be a “big bang, or blow-up” on the waterfront about 3 p.m. He advised her to tell “the president,” and rang off. Executives of the watersiders’ union were informed, and the police were told. No thefts of gelignite have been reported to the police in Lyttelton. No more anonymous threats were made yesterday, and there was no explosion. Late last night, the police had made no progress in their inquiries. Almost 600 watersiders were working the port yesterday and there were several vessels in the harbour. Rumours about the telephone threats flew thick and fast, but work continued normally. There have been no recent dismissals of men by the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and it is considered that the threats were a hoax.