Arrest after year of bomb scares

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34119, 3 April 1976, Page 2

Arrest after year of bomb scares

GV Z. Press Association) i NEW PLYMOUTH, April 2. The police have arrested a man and are in-j terviewins another in connection with telephone bomb hoaxes, which have disrupted; production at the Wai-; itara Freezing' Works of l Thomas Borthwick and Sons in the last 12i months. ■ The man will appear in i 'Court tomorrow charged with I .using a telephone to wilfully! ! give fictitious messages. The works canteen has; , suffered losses exceeding 's4ooo through hoax calls. The caterer said today that he had to throw out $4OO worth of food yesterday because a hoax bomb ■call sent workers home. This did not include losses in 'sales of drinks. con- , fectionery, cigarettes and 'other non-perishable goods. Both the Freezing Workers’ Union and the caterer are critical of what they ! claim are inadequate sen-; ' fences for bomb hoaxers. In fact, the union today, decided to withdraw its ssoo' • reward for information leading to conviction of a hoaxer because it considers the penalties are too light. Reward withdrawn However, a $4OOO reward I offered by the management of the works stands. The union president (Mr R. Rodger) said today that it treated the matter very seriously. “Bombs are an overseas fad, but they are starting to drift into this country and we take it as something serious.” Mr Rodger estimated that the 700 to 800 workers had lost up to $l5O each in wages because of the 15; bomb scares at the works in the last year. On Fridays At first the hoax calls were received on Fridays, but later they came on any, dav of the week. The union had made it clear that any member found responsible for a bomb hoax would not be able to work at the works again. The main fear was the threat of an ammonia explosion if a bomb were planted. It would endanger most of Waitara. Mr Rodger said a number of families worked at the plant. The union and management reached an agreement

Ito minimise disruption from; [bomb hoaxes. |i i Under this, the works were | to be cleared for an hour after ' !a bomb call. The works!; would be checked by the < ! police and if nothing was; ! found the men would return (to work. Previously the men were;l ■sent home and their pay was < (stopped.

i Yesterday’s call was the ! third this week. The police have interviewed a young woman and are continuing their in- ] ;quiries. The works manager (Mr T. Beeby) declined to reveal the loss of production, but; he did say some meat was! condemned because of the ; scares.