SERIOUS LOSSES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 229, 24 June 1941, Page 6

SERIOUS LOSSES

Pillaging Of Goods Consignments INTERISLAND TRAFFIC Manufacturers Prepare To Combat Position (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 23. Manufacturers throughout New Zealand are organizing in an effort to combat the serious losses occurring annually in the pillaging of consignments of goods passing between the South and North Islands. All members of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association have been circularized and urgently requested to supply full details of their losses during the past three months. The council of the Manufacturers,’ Federation will meet in Dunedin on Wednesday, and at this meeting the pillaging will be discussed. Losses reported in Christchurch include slippers, whisky, stockings, handbags, frocks, blouses, shirts, and various forms of men’s wear. It was said today that the loss would run into thousands of pounds every year. Pillaging, it was stated, was so systematically carried out and on so large a scale that the impression had grown among manufacturers that it was on an organized basis. Strength was given to this assumption by the fact that tools used in the pillaging of cargo were specially made. Individuals caught in possession of these tools had been brought to Justice, but there had been no decline, in the volume of loss. There was also ample evidence of expert methods ’used by pillagers.

Inquiries made in Wellington yesterday confirmed that cargo losses of the nature mentioned by the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association were occurring and had increased considerably during recent months One clothing firm, it was stated, had never received a complete shipment aud had reached the stage of having' to make allowance for losses. An investigation into the position was being carried out in Wellington.