DARING ATTEMPT

Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 6

DARING ATTEMPT

FACTORY EXPLOSION MILK PREMISES WRECKED ECHO OF PRICE-CUTTING (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, September 26. A daring attempt to blow up the premises of the Milk Coupon Company in Maldon street was made at midnight last evening. The noise awakened nearby residents who dashed out and saw two men riding off on a motor cycle. The lock had been filed off the front door. Holes were blown in the ceiling, windows broken and milk drums damaged by the force of the explosion. The two men were seen speeding away by J. Hartigan, whose dwelling adjoins the dairy. He hurried out on hearing the explosion and was shortly afterwards joined by a constable, who had also heard the report and had hurried to Maldon street.

H. Fenton, an employee of the company, heard the explosion although his house is fully 300 yards from the dairy. Many others living within a quarter of a mile were also awakened. At the dairy it was found that the lock had been filed off a side door. It is believed that the explosive substance used was gelignite. The force of the explosion was shown by the fact that several holes were blown in the ceiling. A number of bottles were broken, milk drums were damaged and overturned, the milk in some cases being lost. The windows were broken and parts of the separator damaged. The explosive had been placed in a galvanized iron pipe socket. A director of the company says that some time previously two trucks belonging to the company were tipped into the river, and he believes the explosion was the result of hostility due to price-cutting in milk.