UNENVIABLE RECORD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21632, 8 February 1945, Page 3

UNENVIABLE RECORD

PILLAGING IN SYDNEY

“WORST PORT IN WORLD” (9 a.m.) CANBERRA, Reb. 8. Pillage on the wharves in Australia is greater than anywhere else in the world, a special investigator is reported to have informed the Federal Government. Sydney is Australia’s worst port, wharf thefts having reached colossal proportions. Last year more than £IOO.OOO worth of commercial cargo, apart from extensive service losses was looted on the Sydney wharves. Claims amounting to £SOOO were paid out in Sydney recently for cargo pillaged from one ship. As the ship carried about 5000 tons of cargo, ihe pillage claims thus amounted to £1 a ton. Claims of £2OOO pounds are common.

The special investigator is understood to have told the Government that between 400 and 500 extra police are needed on the Sydney waterfront. A lorry-load of butter, 14,1121b5.. was stolen in Sydney on Monday. The butter, in 252 boxes, was loaded on to a lorry at the railway goods yards. The butter and the driver of the lorry have not been seen since. The empty lorry was found abandoned yesterday.