PILLAGING OF GOODS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25207, 11 June 1947, Page 8

PILLAGING OF GOODS

CHRISTCHURCH FIRMS SUFFER CASES IN LAST THREE MONTHS Ten cases of pillaging of goods between March and May, the total value being £l4B Is 6d, have been reported to the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association by firms in Christchurch. This information has been given for a survey of pillaging in the last three months, which the association is making. Eight manufacturing firms have reported that none of the goods they have shipped in the last three months has been pillaged. One firm says that it now sends bulk goods by parcel pest, and there is practically no pillaging. When it is obliged to ship and rail goods there is still evidence of interference. Another firm reports that, pillaging from parcels or cases has compelled it to post all its lines to the North Island. Occasionally it loses parcels in the post, but the position is not nearly as serious as wren goods are shipped. The pillage’d goods included clothing, leather, cutlery, and brushes. Four cases reported by one firm accounted for goods ot a total value of £49 17s. The first time the firm lost 6J dozen pairs of men’s socks worth £l4 9s, the second time three dozen pairs of stockings worth £3 13s, the third time nine dozen pairs of socks worth £lO 15s. and the fourth time clothing worth £2l.

A firm which lost £52 10s worth of drappry, clothing, soft goods, and furnishing material says that approximately £42 worth was pillaged on overseas boats, and there was evidence that the pillaging occurred before the ships arrived in New Zealand. The pillaging was done between March and May, and the goods included tea towels, curtain net, collars, trousers, and infants’ nightdresses. Four cases of cutlery consigned from England to Lyttelton, and worth £9 16s 3d, were pillaged. The firm concerned says that the goods were packed in a tin-lined case, and the pillaging was expertly done, one board being sawed in half, prised up. and then replaced after the cutlery had been removed.

Glove leathers consigned from Italy to Lyttelton were also pillaged. They were packed in a zinc-lined case, and were worth £l9. A carton containing six bottles of fruit salts worth 18s 3d was pillaged in April, and another firm lost £6 worth of bloomers, half hose 2 and sports shirts. These were consigned from Greymouth to Christchurch, and Christchurch to Wellington.

Several dozen paint brushes packed in a wooden case were pillaged when sent by rail and sea to Napier. They were worth £lO, and were in cardboard containers, which were found to be tom open when the case was unpacked. The pillaging occurred in May. _________________