THE WRETCHED WANGANUI.

NZ Truth, Issue 66, 22 September 1906, Page 4

THE WRETCHED WANGANUI.

WHOLESALE PILFERING OF CONSIGNMENTS. A Shameful State of Amairs. Stories of barefaced theft \and overcharge continue to pour m fu'om settlements on the Wanganui\ River, where monopoly reigns anA people [outside the ring have to pay) dearly [for being allowed to remain W the earth. 1 One complaint is that a well-vcnown I storekeeper at Raetihi had recently to pay £8 17s 3d for the carriage of 13cwt of goods from WanganuSand | then m one case of 4 dozen bottled ale he found only 17 full bottlesi In another of the same quantity whefn it left the warehouse, he found il em|pty bottles. At the time our correspondent wrote, there was lying at Ithe shed at Pipiriki for this same storekeeper, a case of oranges that hlad only 16 fruit left m it. On this Jhe was allowed 10s, but he is outj a good many sovereigns hy such scandalous shortages, within the last ffcw months. ] Any wonder that prices of commjpdities are so high m the river aiid back country settlements. The average consumer is of course not awaite what tremendous losses the locall traders are under by the shamefully high freight and cartage, added ti > barefaced robbery they are subjected to and he naturally kicks at having to' pay so dearly for everything required. In. the circumstances, however, the storekeeper is compelled to pass the monstrous tax on to his cus, tomers, m part at least, 0 r he woul* soon go under m the struggle Wltli monopoly and theft. 1 i With regard to this latter, there lis a remedy. It should not be impossilble to detect the thieves and brina them to justice and the victims! should combine to this end, as thel police appear helpless. i