The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1, 1944. CARGO PILLAGING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21550, 1 November 1944, Page 2

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1, 1944. CARGO PILLAGING

Tne tact mat me pinagmg or snips i nrgoe.s is not confined to New Zea- ; land ports is no reason why steps should not be taken to put an end to the practice in this country, or at the very least to reduce the trouble to such an extent that it ceases to be a grave reflection on the integrity of the men who handle the goods. Figures compiled by the various shipping companies trading in New Zealand waters and published in the form of a statement by the Associated Chambers of Commerce show that theic has been an increase of over 100 per cent in the amount of cargo pilfering during the five-year period from 1939 to 1943. Several reasons have been advanced for this unfortunate state of affairs, ranging from the haphazard method of some packers to the tempting availability of wartime black markets and a noticeable moral deterioration. Whatever the causes may be, it is only fair to the business community, the purchasing public and the majority of watersiders that every c-ifort should be mode to stop the rot. Most of the pilfering has been done at. the main ports, and the figures show that the total losses from shortlandings, pillage, avoidable damage and other causes have grown in terms of money from £10,843 to £19,703 during the five years.

Apa.t from the information given in the Chamber of Commerce statement, it is known that from time to time articles in short supply to the warehouses and shops have disappeared, indicating that somewhere a profitable market for them can be found by the persons guilty ot the theft. The question of stronger deterrents immediately springs to mind. In England the Liverpool Steamship Owners’ Association has suggested that pilfering at the docks should be placed, for penal purposes, on the same level as looting; it is indeed difficult to understand wherein the difference lies. Under present conditions it is hard to provide adequate supervision for all port activities and to obtain first-hand evidence of this type of offence, but if a drastic example could be made of only a few miscreants the effect should be salutary.

As an initial precaution, however, the most satisfactory remedy may follow the course embodied in the resolution passed by the Lyttelton Watersiders’ Union affirming that it does not countenance pillaging and threatening that, if any member of the branch is found guilty, the committee of management is authorised to deal with him severely in accordance with the rules of the union. Firm adherence by the watersiders to this procedure should go a long way towards preventing the acts of a few dishonest workers from sullying the record of the whole organisation, A point to be noted is that watersiders are not always responsible for these thefts. The tendency to jump to this conclusion should be avoided. It does seem likely, however, that if the watersiders band together in keeping a close watch on the goods they handle they will be able to check the operations of astute outside malefactors. A cablegram published today tells a sorry tale of widespread pillaging on the Australian railways and corroborates the idea that existing black markets are encouraging thieves who seek a quick and profitable turn-over.