FRACAS ON STEAMER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23221, 19 June 1937, Page 14

FRACAS ON STEAMER

BELLIGERENT FIREMEN OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES POLICE MAKE SIX ARRESTS (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, June 18. Trouble occurred on board the Shaw. Savill and Albion cargo steamer Tairoa at Lyttelton this evening between the firemen and the waterside workers, engaged on the ship. It is alleged that the Tairoa’s firemen returned to the ship the worse for liquor. On their way to the ship several windows in the Harbour Board’s cool store were broken, and a railway waterside worker who happened to be in their path as they went along the wharf was knocked down, losing several teeth.

On boarding the Tairoa the firemen are alleged to have attacked the waterside workers working on the deck, pulling the winchmen from the winches and shouting abuse. Driving the waterside workers from the foredeck with bottles, pieces of iron and other missiles, they caused a complete stoppage of woi’k for an hour. When the aggressors’ stock of missiles became exhausted, the waterside workers, who had been joined by reinforcements from the wharf, attacked and drove the firemen into the forecastle. The firemen then armed themselves with plates and other missiles an& made a sortie, but were again driven back to their quarters. At this stage a party of police, with Sergeant D. Wilson in charge, arrived and took over the attack from the waterside workers. The firemen scattered for cover, and a man hunt ensued, with batons drawn. The police, in spite of a desultory fire of bottles and other missiles, searched the deck and forecastle, and succeeded in arresting six of the alleged ringleaders. They will appear at the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court to-morrow morning. With the exception of a waterside worker, who was assaulted on the wharf, none of the combatants suffered from other than minor injuries.