MORE PILLAGING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25668, 17 October 1944, Page 4

MORE PILLAGING

CARGO FROM NORTH ISLAND STRONGER MEASURES URGED Endeavours to have stronger measures taken against the theft of goods in transit between the North Island and the South Island are to be urged on the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation by the Men’s and Boys’ Outer Clothing Trade Group, said the chairman of the group, Mr C. B. Myhre, in an interview at Christchurch. The group, he said, intended to take up with the federation the question' of the liability of shipping companies in such cases of theft. At present the companies refused to recognise any claims made on them. The group expressed the opinion that there was not sufficient supervision in harbour board sheds either in Wellington, or Lyttelton, and that this state of affairs was not conducive to the reduction of these thefts.

“After a period in which losses from this cause were comparatively small, pillaging is again definitely on the increase,” said Mr R. T. Alston, secretary to the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association. “Reports to this association, in the .last two months show that many firms have suffered substantial losses of goods.” From a recent consignment to Wellington by a Christchurch firm a complete carton of 36 yairs of women’s shoes, valued at £SO, was lost. Not even the carton in which the shoes were packed had since been found. Out of a carton of sandals 28 pairs valued at £ls had been stolen, and another carton of children’s footwear was rejected at the ship .because it was found that the carton had been slashed. In this case the contents had been interfered with, but none taken. Another case reported to the association, said Mr Alston, was the loss of suit material consigned on an English ship. One piece of worsted valued at £54 was missing from the bale when the consignment was received by the importers.