PILFERAGE OF CARGO.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15742, 6 February 1922, Page 6

PILFERAGE OF CARGO.

SHOCKING STATE OF AFFAIRS. ENORMOUS CLAIMS ON SHIPPING, --.jjl-ySEL) STANDARD OF HONESTY Elcc- Tel Copyright—United Press Assn (Australian nml N.Z. Cable Association. (Received February 6, 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, Fob. 5. The report of tho Pilferage Committee of the Chamber of Shipping states that tho loss of goods in transit in the port of London was about three and a half millions sterling yearly. Claims paid by shipowners were at least twenty times larger than before the war, and in many cases considerably greater. At one Mediterranean port tho system in operation amounts to armed robbery. In some countries it is impossible to secure the assistance of tho police to stop the scandal, while in Brazil Customs officers benefit so largely from shares in the fines that they encourage outrageous pilferage. One cause of tho increase is the control of trade by Government Departments during the war, hut tho chief reason is the general debasement of flic standard of honesty which is a legacy of tho war. Regarding Australia the Committee state that without full whole-hearted cooperation of the trade unions connected with Flipping and wharves, thieving of cargoes will remain a standing disgrace to the good name of the Australian nation. Even children on tho waterside must know wluit is going on, and what kind of education is it for them?