THEFTS ON WHARVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19698, 26 July 1927, Page 12

THEFTS ON WHARVES.

COMMENTS BY A JUDGE.

"A HAPPY HUNTING GROUND."

PROTEST BY WORKERS* UNION.

The prevalence of thieving on the wharves was commented upon by Judge Curlewis when he was dealing with a case at a Sydney Court recently. The appeal before the Court was that of Daniel Kelly, who had been sentenced to three months' imprisonment on a charge of attempting to steal from a man at Randwick Racecourse. The Crown Prosecutor alleged that Kelly, who was 27 years of age, had received sentences aggregating 23 years. Prisoner's counsel interjected that Kelly was endeavouring to become an honest man by labouring on the wharves. Judge Curlewis: Do you know anything about wharf-labouring ? Counsel: No; I have never done any of it. His Honor: Nor have I; but I know that some wharf-labourers make quite a lot more than their wages. It is a happy hunting-ground for men of the appellant's type. In view of the very large amount of thieving that goes on at the wharves it is a great pity that so many of the men who labour on them have been convicted for that offence. It was no wonder that goods disappeared from the wharves when such men were employed. The Judge dismissed the appeal and increased the sentences from three to six months. A resolution was carried subsequently by the management committee of the Waterside Workers' Federation protesting against the statements of Judge Curlewis and adding:—"This union, challenges Judge Curlewis to show to the public that the waterside workers as a body do not compare favourably with any other section of the community."