PILLAGING OF BEER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24244, 9 April 1942, Page 6

PILLAGING OF BEER

MERCHANTS* HEAVY LOSSES POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH (0.C.) CHRISTCHUBCH, Wednesday The pillaging of portions of consignments of beer was increasing and losses amounted to hundreds of pounds, stated one of the principals of Messrs. Fred Cross and Sons, Limited, wine and spirits merchants, in a statement today. Five hundred cartons of beer put of a consignment of 1400 cartons were delivered to the firm and of this number 117 cartons were found to be defective. A reporter saw a considerable proportion of these defective cartons, one of which was completely wrecked. Another container had only one full bottle and one empty bottle. The other 22 bottles were missing. In another carton a dozen bottles of beer had been, emptied and the carton was undamaged. The pillaging was becoming intolerable, said a representative of this firm. Questioned as to breakages, he stated that these were now far more numerous than before and that hooks now appeared to be. used with more abandon than formerly: During the Christmas holidays 170 dozen bottles of beer had gone astray. A feature in the present case of pillaging was the frequency with were placed on empty bottlfts. Fie understood the rest of the present consignment was in an even worse state and that he had no other option but to . accept it.