THEFTS FROM CARGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1937, Page 13

THEFTS FROM CARGO

WATERSIDER GUILTY

THREE MONTHS' GAOL

"I am afraid that there are still a number of such crimes committed," said Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today, when Lawrence Gilford, a wharf labourer, aged 38, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft of articles valued at a total of £5 7s, the property of the 'New Zealand Shipping Company.

Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle prosecuted, and Mr. A. J. Mazengarb appeared for the accused.

Detective-Sergeant Doyle said that at 4.45 p.m. yesterday the accused came off the Piako carrying an oilskin coat which appeared to be very bulky. When questioned, he admitted having a box of cutlery, which he said he had found in the hold. A search of his home revealed two pairs of ladies' stockings, two pencils, and a pen, which he said he had taken from the ship the day before. During the preceding twelve months, his earnings were £431 16s Bd, an average of £9 per week.

Mr. Mazengarb said that the accused had no excuse to offer. There was no suggestion,, however, that he broke open any cases, or was concerned in so doing. The cargo was badly stowed, and among other things, a whole tier of cases of silk stockings had been broken open. This fact had been re- | ported by the accused to the watchman, and the other goods handed over. The accused had been in New Zealand since 1923, and had been permanently employed on the wharves for seven years. He was a decent hard-working man, as the detective-sergeant had said, and had not been before the Court previously. Some years ago the practice of pillaging cargo was much more prevalent than it was today. The Magistrate: I am afraid not, Mr. Mazengarb.

Mr. Mazengarb: I' can' assure your Worship that it is a long time since a case of this nature has come before the Court.

The Magistrate: I will givj full regard to the contentions of counsel. But here is, a man in a position of trust. Wharf labourers are trustees for the owners of cargo as well as for the shipping people. They are in a position to earn good money; but this is all the more reason why they should not steal. It is bringing reproach on the ■ wharf labourers as a whole that one of their members should be before the Court. The onus is on the wharf labourers to prevent the occurrence of such offences.

The accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour on one charge, and to. 14 days on the other, the terms to be concurrent.