CARGO PILFERING.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16985, 6 November 1920, Page 9

CARGO PILFERING.

fr SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. (By Cable—Press Association— Copyright.) and N.Z. Cabio Association.) MELBOURNE, November o. In the Senate, Mr Earlo moved the adjournment for the purpose of discussing cargo pilfering. . He quoted statements tliat the toll exacted by the water-front workers of Australia exceeded £500,000 a year, and, including petty pilfering, the total was probabiy over £1,000,000-. In support of tne statement tiiat an organised system was in operation, lie stated that a boot manufacturer, in order to pre\eiit thefts, sent all left-foot boots m one ship, and all right-foot coots in anotner shiy, but two cases from each consignment disappeared, tie urged the need for action 011 the part of the Commonwealth and btate Governments, and tue unions involved. , « iii 4. The Hon. G. F. Pearce declared that, if the statements were true, they constituted a stigma upon the waterfront workers. No self-respecting organisation would sit quiescent unuer such charges. Ho had been told that detectives, placed on vessels, took their lives in their hands if they went into the ships' holds. They were m danger from falling cases. He promised to consult the State Governments with a view to taking remedial measures.