CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

Southland Times, Issue 20613, 11 October 1928, Page 11

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

ACTION AGAINST HARBOUR BOARD. RESULT OF CARGO PILLAGING. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, October 8. Last January a number of seamen from the Tairoa entered the Pipitea wharf shed and pillaged some cargo. Before Mr Page in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, Levin and Company and S. E. Cooper, Limited, claimed £2 16/4 and £4O 11/11 respectively from the Wellington Harbour Board, alleging that the loss was due to the board through its servants failing to take due and proper and Reasonable care' of the goods. Mr O’Leary for plaintiffs submitted that the onus was on the board to prove that all reasonable care was taken to prevent theft, and contended that this had not been done, first by hot having the sited properly searched, second by not taking steps to prevent a person if he did secrete himself in the shed, from getting out. For the defence, Mr Stevenson said that the case was of the greatest importance to the board on the matter of principle, whether or not the board was liable in regard to theft from its sheds. It had always understood that it was not and in consequence its charges which year after year had been cut down, did not purport to allow for insurance against theft. The case is unfinished.