Huntly rail bridge bombing

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Coordinates: 37°34′28″S 175°06′20″E / 37.5744262°S 175.1055603°E / -37.5744262; 175.1055603Mahuta
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Huntly rail bridge bombing
Part of 1951 New Zealand waterfront dispute
LocationGlen Afton (or Awaroa) Branch, near Huntly, New Zealand
Coordinates37°34′28″S 175°06′20″E / 37.5744262°S 175.1055603°E / -37.5744262; 175.1055603
Date30 April 1951 (1951-04-30)
3:00am (NZT)
Attack type
Bombing
DeathsNone
InjuredNone
PerpetratorsUnknown

The Huntly rail bridge bombing occurred on the Glen Afton (or Awaroa) Branch, near Huntly, New Zealand around 3 a.m. on 30 April 1951, when high explosives were set off on a railway bridge.[1][2] The bombing took place amid the 1951 New Zealand waterfront dispute, an industrial dispute over the working conditions and wages of dockworkers. Characterised by the-then Prime Minister Sidney Holland as an act of terrorism, the bombing caused no casualties, even though a morning passenger train ran over the weakened bridge. The perpetrators remain unknown.

Waikato coalfields[edit]

Main article: Huntly, New Zealand § Coal

Coal was first mined from the Waikato coalfields west of Huntly in 1849. By 1951, both pit (underground) and open-cast (surface) mining techniques were being used.[3]

Trade unions[edit]

Depending on the mine and mining techniques used, the 1500 Waikato miners were members of either the larger national United Mineworkers' Union, who worked the pit mines, or the smaller local Northern Miners' Union who worked some of the open-cast mines.[4][5] Small disputes during 1950 had revealed different attitudes both between and within the union memberships.[6][7]

1951 waterfront dispute[edit]

Main article: 1951 New Zealand waterfront dispute

On 13 February 1951, the national executive of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union decided its members would only work a 40-hour week, and imposed an overtime ban.[8] In response, the employers stood the men down until the following Saturday.[8] By 21 February, the Government had passed emergency regulations and declared a state of national emergency.[9] By 27 February, most of the Waikato miners were on strike, in support of the watersiders, and members of various unions refusing to work brought mining at most Waikato mines to a standstill.[10]

Coal shortage[edit]

By the start of March 1951, Waikato dairy companies dependent on local coal were reporting they had a week to ten days supply left.[11] Initially, the Auckland Gas Company expected it would be able to maintain gas supplies.[11] Yet by 12 March, the company said it could only maintain gas supplies for three meal periods a day for 17 days after receiving a fresh shipment of coal, while half the retort house workers were dismissed after they refused duty and walked out.[12] Even though the Waikato open-cast miners returned to work at the beginning of April 1951,[13] this came too late for the freighter Lochybank, which had been in Auckland port since 18 February, and had to load 150 tons of firewood instead of unobtainable bunker coal so that it could sail for Lyttelton to discharge its remaining cargo.[14]

Bombing and result[edit]

In 1951, during the New Zealand waterfront dispute and strike, six sticks of gelignite were detonated on a railway bridge near Mahuta, at the Rotowaro end of the Glen Afton branch line, three miles from Huntly.[1][15] While the bridge was severely damaged, the explosives had been set against the grain of the bridge's hardwood timbers in half-inch diameter holes, causing bridge piles and stringers to be dislodged and splintered, they remained intact.[1][15] Had the explosives been set with the grain, the bridge might have been demolished.[1] Although residents as far away as Huntly heard an explosion about 3 a.m. on 30 April, and some men boarding the 7:30 a.m. train from Huntly to the coal fields were talking about the explosions they had heard, overnight, the train crew were not aware the bridge had been damaged before the train rounded a bend in the track and the driver saw warning sleepers laid on the track.[1] Although he immediately applied the brakes and slowed the train, the locomotive struck the sleepers and crossed the bridge, which rocked noticeably, along with the leading three waggons, before coming to rest with the guard's van, which was in front of the passenger carriages, on the bridge.[1] The train crew inspected the bridge and saw it had been damaged by explosives, only then realizing it was the result of the early-morning explosion.[1] As they considered that most of the train's weight had already crossed the bridge safely, the crew decided to continue, but stopped and inspected the remaining bridges, before crossing them.[1]

Since the branch line connected the four open-cast mines and several pits in the Waikato coalfields with the Huntly township and the railway line, newspapers initially reported the railway line had been cut.[1] While the government's position was that the attempted sabotage of the bridge was intended to disrupt coal supplies, local police suggested it was more likely an attempt to frighten and intimidate open-cast mine workers.[16][15][17]

Although police made extensive inquiries in the area, noting that high explosives were used in the mines, and elsewhere, so would not be hard to obtain, with many people keeping plugs of gelignite at home for various purposes, no arrests were reported.[1][18] Trains were reported as running normally but with railway employees patrolling the line before each train.[18] The bridge sabotage was thought to have been carried out by coal miners operating without the knowledge or support of the trade unions involved in the industrial actions.[19][20]

While reporting restrictions in place at the time might have constrained New Zealand reporting,[21][better source needed],[22] Australian newspapers were under no such restrictions. Many Australian news papers carried a 30 April report about the passenger train crossing the bridge about four hours after the explosion of six dynamite shots had damaged the piles and stringers of the bridge.[23] Also reporting the explosion had failed to destroy the bridge because the charges were laid against the grain of the wood.[24] Speculation about who might have committed the deed were many and varied. While many Australian newspapers were happy to watch from afar, more in depth and independent journalistic investigation was limited.[25] At least one later author speculated that the charges were carefully misplaced with the intention only of warning open-cast miners who were working.[26]

Reaction[edit]

Upon hearing the news, Prime Minister Sidney Holland denounced the bombing, calling it an "infamous act of terrorism", as well as a "diabolical act of sabotage" and part of "a desperate cold war".[27][2] Holland announced an investigation, but the identities of the perpetrators were never discovered.[28] The next day, 1 May, when calling for volunteers to register for the newly formed Civil Emergency Organisation, which was being set up to protecting life and property, he described the bridge sabotage as a tactic "to stop urgently-needed coal from reaching the people’s fireplaces."[29] And said "... it was miraculous that the attempt was not accompanied by serious loss of life ..."[29]

The then Leader of the Opposition, Labour's Walter Nash also condemned the sabotage and called on law-abiding citizens to co-operate with authorities to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further acts.[30]

A leader of the striking miners "knew nothing" about the sabotage attempt, and appealed for "all miners to refrain from provocative acts."[20] The local police sergeant was "shocked and disappointed" by the sabotage and the open-cast mine-workers thought it a senseless act.[25]

Historians opinions are also varied. Richardson, in his history of the United Mineworkers Union, accepts the police assessment that the sabotage was an attempt intimidate the open-cast miners and that Holland exploited the opportunity the event presented to announce the formation of the Civil Emergency Organisation.[15] Beath, writing in Te Ara, however, argues that the act was one of sabotage, rather than terrorism, and the probable target was property and the intention was the disruption of supplies, rather than achieving a political aim through terror.[19]

Aftermath[edit]

In an evening radio broadcast on 1 May, Prime Minister Holland announced that the government had decided to form the "Civil Emergency Organisation" to assist the police and called for male volunteers to register with their local city, borough, or county council, or town board from 10 a.m. the following morning.[31][29][32] Even before Holland's broadcast had ended, local mayors were receiving telephone calls from volunteers.[33][34] By 3 May, over 12,000 volunteers were estimated to have registered.[35] The organisation ceased operation at the end of the waterfront dispute.[36][37]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Explosion on Bridge". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26409. Christchurch, New Zealand. New Zealand Press Association. 1 May 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  2. ^ a b "Division and defeat – The 1951 waterfront dispute". nzhistory.govt.nz. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga. 28 November 2022. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Increased Output of Coal: New Open-Cast Areas in Waikato". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26319. New Zealand Press Association. 13 January 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 5 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  4. ^ "Waikato Mine Strike". Press. Vol. LXXXVI, no. 26188. 11 August 1950. p. 8. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Huntly Dispute: 1500 on strike". Otago Daily Times. No. 27403. PA. 31 May 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 6 November 2022 – via Paper Past.
  6. ^ "Differences In Waikato Coal Strike Harden". Wanganui Chronicle. 7 August 1950. p. 5. Retrieved 6 November 2022 – via Papers Past.
  7. ^ "Spread Of Unrest In Coal Mines Of Waikato Area". Gisborne Herald. Vol. LXXVII, no. 23326. P.A. 8 August 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 6 November 2022 – via Papers Past.
  8. ^ a b "Work at All Ports May Stop". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26346. New Zealand Press Association. 14 February 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  9. ^ "State of National Emergency". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26353. 22 February 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  10. ^ "Waikato Mines Idle". Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26358, 28 February 1951, Page 6. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26358. New Zealand Press Association. 28 February 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 6 November 2022 – via Papers Past.
  11. ^ a b "Gas Coal for Auckland". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26360. New Zealand Press Association. 2 March 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  12. ^ "Gas To-day in Auckland". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26369. New Zealand Press Association. 13 March 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  13. ^ "No Return to Work: Huntly Miners' Decision: Open-Cast Coal Produced". Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26387, 4 April 1951, Page 6. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26387. New Zealand Press Association. 4 April 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 6 November 2022 – via Papers Past.
  14. ^ "General News: Steamer to Burn Timber". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26380. New Zealand Press Association. 3 April 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  15. ^ a b c d Richardson, Len (1995). Coal, Class & Community: The United Mineworkers of New Zealand, 1880-1960. Auckland University Press. p. 292. ISBN 978-1-86940-113-9. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ Richardson, Len (1995). Coal, Class & Community: The United Mineworkers of New Zealand, 1880–1960. Auckland University Press. p. 291. ISBN 9781869401139. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  17. ^ Gunaratna, Rohan; Kam, Stefanie (2016). Handbook of Terrorism in the Asia–Pacific. World Scientific. p. 608. ISBN 9781783269976. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  18. ^ a b "Police Search at Huntly: Extensive Inquiry Made". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26410. New Zealand Press Association. 2 May 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  19. ^ a b Beath, Lance (20 June 2012). "Terrorism and counter-terrorism – Terrorism and New Zealand: the historical background". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  20. ^ a b "Huntly Miners Meet". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26411. New Zealand Press Association. 3 May 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. A member of the Waikato executive reported that the organisation knew nothing about the attempt to blow up a bridge near Huntly, and he appealed to all miners to refrain from provocative acts.
  21. ^ Hunt, Tom (25 February 2017). "1951 Waterfront dispute". The Press. Retrieved 15 May 2017 – via PressReader.
  22. ^ Hunt, Tom (25 February 2017). "Axe to the head helps humanity shine through in bitter dispute". Stuff. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  23. ^ "SABOTEURS DYNAMITE RAIL BRIDGE – Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 – 1954) – 1 May 1951". Trove. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  24. ^ "Attempt Made to Blow Up Railway Bridge – Fiendish Act in New Zealand | TRACK DOWN CRIMINALS – Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 – 1954) – 1 May 1951". Trove. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  25. ^ a b McNicoll, David (9 May 1951). "New Zealand Miners Split on Strike". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. XVI, no. 40. New South Wales, Australia. p. 8. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ Bassett, Michael (1972). Confrontation '51: the 1951 Waterfront Dispute. Wellington: Reed. p. 169.
  27. ^ "Infamous Act of Terrorism". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26409. New Zealand Press Association. 1 May 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  28. ^ Battersby, John (2018). "Terrorism Where Terror Isn't: Australian and New Zealand Terrorism Compared". Studies in Conflict & Terrorism. 41: 59–76. doi:10.1080/1057610X.2017.1287501. S2CID 114479246.
  29. ^ a b c "Wreckers Have Other Plans in Mind". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26410. 2 May 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  30. ^ "Act Condemned by Mr Nash". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26409. New Zealand Press Association. 1 May 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  31. ^ "Civilian Body to Aid Police". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26410. 2 May 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Prime Minister Calls For Volunteers
  32. ^ (Editorial) (2 May 1951). "To Protect Life And Property". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26410. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  33. ^ "Mr J. K. McAlpine Volunteers". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26410. 2 May 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  34. ^ "Offers Made to Mayor". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26410. 2 May 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  35. ^ "Volunteers Estimated at More Than 12,000". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26412. 4 May 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  36. ^ "Emergency Corps at Wellington". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26475, 17 July 1951, Page 8. New Zealand Press Association. 17 July 1951. p. 8. Retrieved 10 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  37. ^ (Editorial) (17 July 1951). "The End of the Strike". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26475. p. 6. Retrieved 10 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.

External links[edit]

  • "Attempt to Blow up Bridge". Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26410. 2 May 1951. p. 8. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Photograph captioned: Damage caused by the explosion of three charges in a railway bridge in the Huntly district being inspected by an official of the Railways Department. The attempt to wreck the bridge, which is on the line connecting the Waikato coalmines with Huntly, was made early on Monday morning.

37°34′28″S 175°06′20″E / 37.5744262°S 175.1055603°E / -37.5744262; 175.1055603Mahuta

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