DECREASE SHOWN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 192, 15 August 1941, Page 5

DECREASE SHOWN

PILLAGING OF CARGO I i (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day.j Inquiries originated by the Minister in Charge of the Police Department, the Hon. P. C. Webb, showthat the number of cases of pillaging of goods reported in the last 12 months has decreased. This is stated in a reply by the Minister to a request for his comment on recent reports of a serious increase in pillaging.

INQUIRIES BY MINISTER

| "The inquiries," the Minister] jstates, "reveal that the number of| 'cases of pillaging reported during: the last 12 months is less than the! jnumber reported during the pre! jvious twelve months. Pillaging of goods in transit between the two islands has been on a smaller scale jthan in previous years. "I am advised mat in many linstances the loss of goods is due to| Ifaulty packing, valuable articles, .ibeing contained in brown paper jparcels or cardboard cartons tied' [with twine or light wire. Such •■packages will not stand handling in •jtransit and are often found burst ,open and their contents scattered or Jiexposed, thus rendering it a simple -|matter for a dishonest person to Ijobtain possession of the goods, i "There is also evidence," added the "that pillaging takes place jeither before the goods are received Mat the wharves or after their removal therefrom."