FRUIT PILFERING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1543, 12 September 1912, Page 4

FRUIT PILFERING.

» ON THE QUEEN'S WHAKF. Mr. C. D. Butler, representing the New Zealand Provision wid Produce Company, of Christchurch, called at The Dominion Office to call attention to the wholesale pilfering of fruit which ho states ho saw going on Bhortly beforo noon on tho Queen's Wharf yesterday. Not only were there youths ami young men standing round about tho place of inspection freely and openly eating the fruit, and scattering skins of oranges about the wharf, but •lie declares that ho saw somo young wjen go awav with baskets of fruit which had been "lifted" from tho surplusage left after the cases had been emptied and then refilled. No timo can be spared to repack tho case as snugly as originally, and possibly a quarter of the total of an inspected case disappears, which our informant considers pretty rough on the grower. "It appears to bo <lono quite, openly," said Mr. Butler, "but it should bo put a. stop to in tho interests of growers and the port." , Inquiry elicited tho fact that a great deal of pilfering did go on, but most of it is said to be on tho part of youths. 6aid to bo in tho employ of local fruit merchants, who aro sent to tho wharf to expedite the transport of tho cases from the wharf to tho markets. During the afternoon it became known among the wharf labourers that inquiry ■was being made into tho charge, and last evening "One Who Sees tho Inner Working" (who forwards his name) wrote as follows to the editor:—"Sir,—ln justice to tho wharf and those employed thereon, I would like to throw a little light on n subject which, to my mind, has been misunderstood both by press nnd public, viz.—examination of fruit landed by various steamers at the wharves. (1) That the fruit has to be spread out in 0 frame for the inspector to see. (2) The fruit is then put back in the case, and as all will not go in, the overflow is picked up and deposited in various handbags, etc., carried by different youths and voung men who are employed by various fruit merchants in this town. I write this because Bome people have an _ idea that tho fruit mercha-.it is a much injured person, and that tho worker on the wharves is continually pillaging his fruit. 1 think in all fairness that the truth of this matter should bo made known."