Evidence about pillage sought

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 2

Evidence about pillage sought

ew Zealand Press Association

WELLINGTON. April 22

The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Watt) would like anyone with definite knowledge of pillaging on the wharves or railways to come forward with specific evidence and not generalities.

He said this evening that) [little could be done until

someone came up with firm !

evidence

"There's a lot of hearsay going around and people accusing a group of people of pillaging without producing any firm evidence.” Mr Watt said.

I “These generalities don't get us anywhere. If people are prepared to make stateiments in general they should Ibe prepared to make them [specific. : “If they would, the Government wouldn’t hesitate to 'take action and the police iwouldn't hesitate either." j Mr Watt said he knew of no cases of pillaging on I which the police had not taken action.

Asked about a suggestion Of special railways police, Mr Watt said he would be disturbed if a week-end newspaper report of widespread railways pillaging was correct.

It would certainly take careful study before any special railways police group was set up, and it could be found that any one of a dozen areas might warrant just as much special policing.