CARGO BROACHING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 20 February 1920, Page 5

CARGO BROACHING

Chief Detective [Ward brought under the notice of the Court at Wlelington on Wednesday the fact that a considerable quantity of goods is being pillaged from cargo oi the water fronts at the various ports in the Dominion. In the aggregate the loss to the shipping companies and merchants rpns into thousands of pounds annually. ’ The remarks were made during, the hearing of a ease in which Harry Colman, a waterside worker, was charged with stealing on December 30th last ladies’ boots and shoes valued •at £6 6s 6d the property of Edward Pearce and Company. It was stated that on February 4th last Colman was before the court for theft, and fined £5, and it was while the police were making inquiries into that charge that the particulars in respect to the present one were ascertained. Th the first instance the accused, who was working cargo on the steamer Iceland, was detected, leaving the vessel with four or five ladies’ singlets wrapped round his body. The premises where he lived were then searched and boots and shaes, which were found to be portion of the cargo of the Waihora, were discovered. The evidence against Colman in the ease that was before the court, was last week, and an adjournment was made to enable the defendant to find a Miss Gladys Smith, from whom he said he purchased the hoots and shoes. The whereabouts of the young* lady could not be found, and the accused was convicted and fined £5, in default to undergo 21 days’ imprisonment.