"ON THE INCREASE "

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 193, 16 August 1941, Page 10

"ON THE INCREASE "

CASES OF PILLAGING MANUFACTURERS' VIEWS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. A replv to the statement by the Minister' in Charge of Police, the Hon. P. C. Webb, that the number of reported cases of pillaging had decreased in the last year was made to-day by the secretary of the NewZealand Manufacturers' Federation. Mr. D. I. Macdonald. "The Minister's statement as such must be accepted." Mr. Macdonald said, "as it is no doubt based on facts available to the Minister. It refers, however, to only one aspect of the question. Manufacturers would have felt happier if the inquiries made by the Minister had been more penetrating than they apparently have I been. As far as is known no in'quiries have been made from manufacturers, who could have supplied a great deal of evidence. "The reduction in the number of reported instances of pillaging does not necessarily mean a reduction in the total value of goods pillaged or a reduction in the number of cases or packages pillaged. Manufacturers are still of the opinion that pillaging is on the increase and the federation is going on with its investigations and efforts to put a stop to this wherever possible. In view of war conditions and the difficulties of obtaining new and satisfactory packing materials, and also the necessity to avoid waste, the question of pillaging becomes still more serious."