PILFERING ON THE WHARVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 8

PILFERING ON THE WHARVES.

.ei * I THE QUESTION OF "COLD BRAID." I Thk statement made by Mr. It. F. Way, I while giving evidence in the wharf labourers' dispute at Wellington recently, that the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union had only received two complaints regarding pilfering, and that in the first case it was supposed the offenders were persons wearing gold braid, while in the other instance the charge was sheeted home to an officer in . the employ of the Union Company, was again referred to at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board. Mr. Way being in attendance as a member of a deputation, the Chairman (Hon. E. Mitchelson) informed him that some of the Board's officers had taken umbrage at the remarks in question, and he asked Mr. Way to explain his references to gold braid. • , , Mr. Way : I made no statement regarding the Board's officers. The Chairman: You spoke of " gold braid." Mr Way said that he was not aware that the officers of the Board wore gold braid, arfd he was not referring to them. '■Some of our men," he added, "have been blamed for certain things. Ido not say that-they are angels, or that some of them do not pilfer cargo, but we are trying to put it down as far as we are a bio." The Chairman said it had been felt that, the remarks referred to contained an implied reference to officers of the Board. Mr Way : The remarks I made had no reference to officers of the Board. They referred to other people. I have somethine else to tell the members of the Board, but I will tell it to them privately. » The matter then dropped.