FRUIT PILFERING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue LXXXIV, 23 September 1912, Page 7

FRUIT PILFERING

AN ENDEAVOUR TO STOP IT. Complaints have recently been made as to the amount of pilfering that goos on on the wharves when Islands and Sydney boats unload their cargoes. The cases, on arrival, are opened for inspection, but the goods are not repacked in the careful manner in which they are received. The surplusage, it is asserted, finds it way into handbags, and is carried away. Growers and buyers have complained that" the cases are not full weight. The wharfinger, Mr. Munro, has offered to repack the surplus fruit into extra cases, if the merchants would supply the necessary receptacles, but the offer has not been taken advantage of. Now a circular has been issued by the wharfinger, with a view of combatting the evil. The circular sets out that clerks and storemen are to see that all fruit is handled carefully from the ship's slings and stacked without any rough handling, such as dropping one case on the top of another. An adequate number of men must at all times be put on to facilitate delivery. If the men cannot be obtained the matter must be reported to the wharfinger. The storemen are to see that no bags are allowed to be taken into the sheds by the fruit merchants or their assistants, and no one is to be allowed to receive fruit from them. No boys frtam any firm are to be allowed in the 6heds except for the purpose of conveying certificates, or other papers to those concerned, and on completion of their business are at once to leave the sheds. Pilfering or eating fruit will be dealt with in the same way as pilfering cargo. Fruit merchants will supply empty cases for the purpose of packing any surplus fruit which cannot be repacked into the cases which are under examination. The charge for such repacking will be 3d per case of three cubic feet, and an additional penny for every foot over three feet. Under the Harbour Board regulations a permanent hand caught pilfering fruit is liable to instant dismissal.

Messrs. E. John6ton and Co. will hold a sale of household furniture at White'sline, Lower Hutt, to-morrow, at 1.30 o'clock, on account of Mr. A. M'Connon, who is giving up housekeeping. On Wednesday, at 1.30 o'clock, in their rooms, they will hold a sale of household furnishings, including costly oak sideboard, oak dtichesse pair, choval bedroom suite, dining table, and upright grand piano. Messrs. A. L. Wilson and Co. will hold a sale of household furniture, including full-size billiard table, Brinsmead piano and effects, the contents of 17 rooms, al Sayes Court, Aurora-terrace, to-mor-row, at 11 o'clock. On Wednesday, the firm will hold their weekly sale of furniture at their rooms, commencing at 1.30 p.m. They will also sell the balance of a consignment of Huraber cycles. The ordinary general meeting of shareholders of the South British Insurance Company, Ltd., will be held at Auckland, on lOtb October. The ordej-paper is •tab out in our advartifinar tiolumas