STRUGGLE ON WHARF 12 Chinese Put In Ship By Police

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 1

STRUGGLE ON WHARF 12 Chinese Put In Ship By Police

Twelve Chinese members of the crew of the Norwegian motor vessel Aggi sat on their luggage on a wharf at Lyttelton and refused to budge when the ship was due to sail yesterday afternoon. They feared that they would be paid off at Shanghai and would not be able to reach their homes in Hong Kong.

Shortly before 5 p.m., an hour after the ship was ready to sail, police formed a ring round the Chinese and put them aboard singly in spite of protests by the men and onlookers.

The 4989-ton Aggi had been loading at Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Dunedin, and Lyttelton and had on board 30,000 bales of wool and a quantity of pelts and hides for Shanghai. According to Mr J. R. Pitcaithly, agent for the ship in Christchurch, the Aggi has a

crew of 43—Norwegian deck officers and engineers, and Chinese seamen.

But for a delay for engine repairs at Auckland, the Aggi would have been clear of the New Zealand coast, said Mr Pitcaithly.

Refusal To Board

When the ship finished loading at Lyttelton in midafternoon, the Chinese, mainly engine-room ratings, took

their luggage off and refused to go aboard again. Customs, immigration, and police officers were informed, said Mr Pitcaithly.

One of the Chinese said the articles of the 12 would expire on May 16. They wanted to be flown from Christchurch to Hong Kong and not sail by their ship by way of Shanghai where they might be paid off and not be able to get home to Hong Kong. While the Chinese sat or stood by their luggage on the wharf opposite the ship, extra police and a dog from Christchurch were called.

The police stayed at the end of the wharf while the Chinese were warned three times by Inspector G. R. Knight, of the Christchurch Criminal Investigation Branch, and Senior-Sergeant P. J. Alty, of Lyttelton. When the Chinese refused to move, 12 police formed a ring round them, and then put each aboard struggling. Seamen and watersiders who had been watching, informed Inspector Knight that the watersiders would not cast off lines fom the wharf while the police remained.

Inspector Knight insisted that he and Senior-Sergeant Alty remain in case of emergency, such as one of the Chinese jumping ashore, but ordered his men and a police van off the wharf.

The Aggi sailed at 5.15 p.m. and cleared the inner harbour at 5.30 p.m.