BUILDING TIMBER DISAPPEARS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 18, 21 January 1921, Page 2

BUILDING TIMBER DISAPPEARS

Notices are frequently posted on build-' ings in the.course of erection threatening prosecution and the- penalties of the law for persons guilty of unlawfully removing timbor or ; other materials from the premises, but the extent of the thieving-from such buildings is probably not. roiilised by the public. This morning, durinif the consideration of a charge of theft of-tim-bor against a building foreman, Robert Hanson, at the Magistrate's Court; the Complainant, John ,Baird, said that during. "the past, three months he had lost, at, least £150 : worth, of timber from various, contracts. ' From a building in course of ereotioh at Wadestown a considerable quantity. of timber and other material; including 900 ft of 8 s 3 red pine t. and g. liuin?. 800 ft of 6 x ft. and g. living,. 300 ft of matai flooring-, 2 owt of nails and brads,' and'eighteen hinges, was misled, and suspecting that Hanson, his foreman, might know something of the timber, he' laid a complaint, and later visited Hanson's houso with Detective Black. They found two lengths of toara and two large" Mooks. valued at 255,- which had been removed from the building.' The defendant, said that the lengths and blocks had been -taken to his place among a lo&d of odds and ends which Baird had "given him as firewood. He knew nothing of any other timber. Moreover, ho considered that the totara was not fit to ba put in the building.. "Tho amount of thieving.that goes on is samdalous," said tho. Magistrate, ,"and if I; 1 were' fully satisfied that this man had' stolon the~.timbor I would send him to" gaol for six months. However, I will. give him tho benefit of the; <loubt: and- dismiss the information." .' ■*■';'*■

Mr, P, W. Jackson' apepared foi: the defence.