Second attack in Paremoremo

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33579, 6 July 1974, Page 2

Second attack in Paremoremo

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 5. Five warders were injured this morning in a further outbreak of violence at Paremoremo Prison. Last evening nine warders were injured when attacked by prisoners.

Jn what prison authorities called “a pretty savage fight,” the inmates turned on the warders after they had been released from their cells and were walking towards the workshop.

Other warders quickly overpowered the inmates. The first five suffered facial injuries, and three were sent home for the rest of the day.

The prison authorities quickly ordered a general lock-up, except for inmates working in the kitchen and the laundry. The lock-up was relaxed about 4 p.m. Seven prisoners joined three who were involved in last night’s fracas in an isolated wing of the prison. They will appear before a Magistrate on Monday on a variety of charges including assault, wilful damage, and disobedience. The assistant superintendent of the prison (Mr H. J. Rundle) said it was thought that today's attack might

have been a reprisal against the warders for using a riot hose to quell the three prisoners who went berserk on Thursday. At “unlock” this morning normal procedure was followed and inmates went to work as normal, but on arrival at the workshops half a dozen inmates attacked staff supervising them. Apart from light wooden ash troughs only fists were used in the fight today. Referring to yesterday's incident, Mr Rundle said that the prison had wooden door surrounds in areas where trouble was not expected, and these had a groove behind them where wires could be hidden. The prisoners used the groove to get leverage to rip nail-studded timber from the wall. The fight was only stopped when other prison officers turned on the riot hose.