LATE SHIPPING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16736, 18 May 1922, Page 8

LATE SHIPPING.

. CARGO PILFERAGE. Remarkable facts concerning pilferage and thett of goods at the ports ot the wo rid arc given in a report oi the Pilterage Committee of the Chamber of Snipping of the L'nited Kingdom, winch has just been issued, says the ” London Daily Telegraph. Last year it was unofficially estimated that the loss due to pilferage of goods in transit at the Port of London was not far Bhort of an annual rate of £3,500,000; and the report indicates that, while some improvement has been effected through the committee's activities, the conditions in the ports of this country are still very far from satisfactory, while in some places abroad they remain absolutely scandalous. The committee remarks on the fact that twelve months after the Armistice pilferage claims were paid by shipowners at a scale commonly twenty times as large a.s that which obtained before the war, and in many cases considerably greater. A group of owners in a particular trade invoked the assistance of the committee to deal with a system amounting t-o “ nothing less than armed robbery” which prevailed in a Mediterranean port: and no more unsatisfactory aspect has been revealed than the lack of police interest in cases of pilferage and in tracing receivers of stolen goods. “It is notorious,” tho committee states, “as regards some countries, that no assistance could be obtained from the police in pilferage matters, and even when men aro caught red-handed it is practically impossible to secure conviction.” In Brazil, for instance. " the offtcals of Customs benofit so largely from a share in fines inflicted that it is impossible to dissociate from that fact the very large and outrageous claims for pilferage which occur. Tho committee ascribes the reasons for the great increase in pilferage mainly to chaotic conditions caused by the war, especially interference in and control of trading facilities by Government departments, and congestion resulting from a «~a e boom immediately succeeding the war but bv far the largest and most progressive factor is. it considers, the general debasement of the standard of common honesty which was a legacy of the • With regard to Australia, th© committee states that “without the full and wholehearted co-operation of the union concerned in dealing with cargoes on th© ships anil wharves, thieving of cargo there will remain for ever as a standing disgrace to the good name of the nation. Even the children of the waterside must know that it is carried on; and what kind of an education is it for them. PACIFIC SLOPE SERVICE. The trans-Paciflc cargo steamer Fairuna. arrived at Wellington from Auckland at 9.50 p.m. on Monday. Rain delayed unloading operations. It was expected that the vessel would sail on Wednesday evening for New Plymouth. Melbourne and Adelaide, taking general cargo for those ports.

PERSONAL.

Captain A. Reed has taken command of the Walpori, relieving Captain G. M. Buxton, who has gone ashore on transfer. Mr J. Dawson, formerly third mate on the Wanaka, is awaiting orders. Captain C. M’Donald, marine superintendent for the Union Company at Weilington, is on a business visit to Auckland.

OVERSEA SHIPPING.

The Shaw-Savill Company advises that the Mahia is duo at Wellington on Saturday morning from Gisborne, and will leave ou Tuesday for Lyttelton, sne will clear Lyttelton on May 25 for London, via Cape Horn. _ . Tho Federal Company has been advised of the arrival at Avonmouth on May 13 of the Somerset, which was dispatched from Wellington on March 31. The departure of the Shaw-Savill steamer Waimana from Auckland for London, via Capo Horn, has been postponed until noon on Saturday.

The Shaw-Savill Company advise that the lonic will leave Wellington on Sunday for Lyttelton, where she is to discharge and load, thence proceeding to Port Chalmers to take iu cargo only. Due back at Wellington on June 5 to complete, the lonic will be dispatched at daybreak five days later for Southampton and London.

In continuation of her Homeward loading the Shaw-Savill steamer Matakana arrived at Bluff at 1.30 a m. on Tuesday from Wellington. The vessel will latex* visit Tiroaru, Napier and Picton, returning to Wellington on May 30. and Bailing on June 4 for London, via Cape Horn. The Devon was dispatched yesterday morning from Dunedin for Timaru.

WIHELESS NOTICE

The following steamers are expected to be within range of the undermentioned wireless stations to-night:— Auckland.—Ruataine, Whangape, Kaituna, Wanaka, Canadian Transporter, Rakanoa, Koromlko; after 12.30 a.m.. Knrori. Awanui. —Tutanekai, Waimarino, Dunduia. France. Wellington.—Ngaio, Mararoa. Port Denison. Mahia. Wingatui, City of Winchester. Wairuna, Moerahi, Paloona. Maori. ARAHURAOVERDUE. [Per Press Association.] GISBORNE, May Ift. A heavy fog has prevailed on the East Coast for the last two days. The Arahura. which was due here yesterday afternoon from Auckland, has not yet reached port. Later. The Arahura reaohed port at 1.80 p.m. BITIPPrNG TELEGRAMSAUCKLAND. May 18. Arrived—Kaituna (12.20 p.m.). from Newcastle. WELLINGTON. May 18. gajled—Moeraki (11-10 a.m.), for Sydney. AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING. NEWCASTLE. May IC. Palled—Waimarino. for New Zealand. OVERSEAS SUTPPiVG. LONDON. May IT. Arrived—At Panama, Remuera; at Vancouver. Niagara. . _ Sailed —For Austral**. Citv of Durham: f roTn stt, Francisco, Waikawa; from Table Bay, miyp l * lll -- 1 .