TO DELAY PURSUIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 31, 5 August 1941, Page 8

TO DELAY PURSUIT

FISHPLATES ON LINE

TRAINS ENDANGERED

BORSTAL ESCAPEES

(P.A.)

DUNEDIN, August 4.

The discovery that several iron fishplates of the type used to hold the ends of railway tracks together had been placed across the main south line between Balclutha and Kakapuaka on Sunday made additional precautions necessary for the safe passage of expresses using the line. Patrols were on duty between Clin~ ton and Stirling and trains travelled slowly so that they could pull up quickly if necessary. ■ It is reported .'that ther Dunedin to Invercargill express took half an hour to travel the three miles between Stirling and Balclutha.

To allay any - uneasiness regarding the possibility of sabotage being . the object of the obstructions' placed on the main south railway line, as re* c ported from Dunedin, the Minister ;of; Railways (Mr. Semple) announced today that fishplates had been placed on the line by two Borstal escapees to check possible pursuit by velocipede; ''.'■■' :■':'''■.'■:.,:'■"••■

Mr. Semple.stated that his inquiries showed that two lads who had .escaped from a Borstal institution were travelling south along the railway line, and, under the impression that they would probably be pursued by officials on velocipedes, had put two or three fishplates on the rail-with a view to. delay ing the pursuit The obstacles were removed and the lads taken into .custody. The line was patrolled further to ensure that no other obstacles had been placed on the track. •

"I make this statement," said the Minister, "in order to assure the public that there is no ground for thinking it was an ordinary act of sabotage, carried but by some person resident in the locality, with a view to derailing the express trains." :