THEFTS OF TOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 7

THEFTS OF TOOLS

AUCKLAND BUILDING JOBS; LOSSES BY TRADESMEN (Per United Press Association) '. Vv. AUCKLAND, Aug. 9.- . : Although thefts, of .tradesmen's.; tools are freqtSenti the position ;$' late has been acute,-. according to a' statement -made by Mr J. G. Ken-. nerley, secretary of the' Carpenters and Joiners' Union, The. losses suffered by tradesmen, were estimated to involve £SOO in the' Auckland district annually. The complaints of thefts, in recent Weeks had come mostly from State housing jobs, Mr Kennerley said. It was estimated that tools valued at, £SO had disappeared from one work alone. The matter had been reported to the union and to the'police, and the police were making inquiries. Smart work by.the police was responsible for a plane, stolen over 12 months ago being returned to its owner. Located in a second-hand dealer's shop, the plane had tb.e owner's name erased from it, but by treating it scientifically the police were able to bring the name up and with the co-operation of the union they were able to restore the plane to its owner. Never a week went by without a complaint being lodged, said Mr Kennerley, who emphasised the necessity for men losing tools to notify the police or the union. The loss had to be borne by the workers as they were not insured against theft. ' Formerly the union had a system of making grants for the replacement of tools, and in one year this involved an expenditure of £ 400. As members did • not - make any actual contribution, to the fund, it became depleted and was finally closed.