CARGO PILLAGING.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1920, Page 5

CARGO PILLAGING.

GRAMAPHONES 'DISAPPEAR. WHOLESALE THEFTS IN AMERICA. Christchurch, Sept. 18. The pillaging of oversea cargo has now reached an alarming stage. The experience of Robert Francis, Ltd., music importers, in illustrative of th,e wholesale manner in which the pillaging is carried out. The manufacturers pack their gramaphones in stoutly-built and clampeit cases about 4ft. 6in. high. The consignment concerned was shipped from New York. Out of l'l cases, seven were found to be minus the machines. In ■ another lot of 14 it hag so far been ascertained that nine are without machines-

Another Christchurch firm, in respect of a shipment just to hand, found the cases denuded of soaps of a value of many hundreds of pounds. There are numerous other instances of large losses relating to shipments from New York during the past few weeks. The evidence'seems clear pillaging was done in America. Pillaging is always going on in all countries, but it has never been on such a wholesale scale as at present in America. There are often losses in respect of goods from the United Kingdom, but these are relatively small. The position is getting worse with Japan. , One Christchurch importing firm had a number of empty cases delivered which should have contained crepe-de-chine. The los 9iu this instance was over £l5O. ■RUBBISH REPLACES CAMERAS. AVellington, Sept. IS. On the arrival of the City of Corinth from America a few days ago, a consignment of cameras was found to be missing, rubbish being substituted. It is believed that the pillaging took place in America.