MELEE ON “WAIPORI”

Grey River Argus, 11 July 1927, Page 5

MELEE ON “WAIPORI”

POLICEMAN HURT. Sacking of the Cook. (Per Press Assn.) NEW PLYMOUTH, July 10. There was a disturbance at the Port of New Plymouth last night, which resulted seriously for Constable Parkerson, and may yet be equally serious for the other parties engaged. The constable is now in the Hospital with an injured leg that may prove, after an Xray examination, to be broken. Tin- ex-cook of the steamer Waipori will to-morrow he charged with being idle and disorderly, while another man, named Burns, will be charged with assault. When the Waipori arrived from Newcastle her cook was discharged and a new cook was secured from Wellington. When Ihe new cook went to his bunk last, night to turn in, he found the excook—fortified, it is alleged, by liquor and his friend Burns, both of whom occupied the cook’s bunk. Finding the odds overwhelming, the new cook approached Captain Gardiner, who ordered the two men out, but they refused to move. Ihe Captain telephoned the police, and Constables Parkerson and Hadler arrived. The Litter waited outside while Parkinson entered the bunkhouse. | Ihe ex-cook left the bunk when ordered, but Burns said that nobody would move him. Burns attacked Parkinson, and kicked him on the leg. After a struggle Burns was hand-1 cuffed, but there was great difficulty in getting him off the ship, as he fought fiercely. The gangway was away, and the constable was painfully injured. The situation was not devoid of humour. The arrested man lay down on the 'wharf, but; unfortunately for him he found that in wet weather the wharf is charged with electricity in certain parts. The man sprang up without further persuasion, and thereafter crowled off the wharf on all fours. Police reinforcements soon arrived, and both men were taken to the lockup- _ _