CARGO PILLAGING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 215, 9 June 1920, Page 8

CARGO PILLAGING

DIFFICULT TO CHECK

EXTRA PRECAUTIONS SUGGESTED

ATTITUDE OF THE SHIPPING

COMPANIES

Many of the facts about cargo pillaging have been placed beforo the public again and again, and they are familiar to most of the people directly and indirectly concerned. Pillaging accounts for a definite addition to the cost of the imported, goods bought by the New Zealand public, and tho charge is increasing rather than decreasing. One Wellington business man stated recently that he believed 2 per cent, would not be an excessive addition to make to invoico cost to cover, pillaging. Other men put the figure lower, but all agreed that the wastage is excessively large. A Dominion reporter made 6ome Inquiries yesterday as to the measures taken to check pillaging at various points between tho manufacturer, in Britain or elsewhere, and the retailer in New Zealand. Ho found a consensus of opinion among business men that tho precautions are not adequate, and also a general recognition of the exceptional difficulties that surround the subject. The difficulties are so great, indeed, that manufacturers, shipping companies and importers tend to regard pillaging as a normal charge rather than as an avoidable loss, and to make their arrangements accordingly. The shipping companies, for example, have their indemnity associations and insurance covers, which provide payments to shippers whose goods have been pillaged. The manufacturer provides for pillage in quoting prices. The merchant is compelled to add to his price any loss that he may have incurred over and above recoveries from the shipping companies. All this means, of course, that the general public pays as tho final purchaser of tho goods. It was suggested to the reporter that tho precautions against pillage would be greater if the losses were not pnssed on by these methods. The conditions of the shipping trade, the reporter was informed, assist the operations.of the pillagers. The shipping compnnics want to keep their ships moving, and they, realise that the close investigation, of caj:es of pillneing would often mean serious delay. Thev would rather pay tho claims of importers up to a certain point than suffer that delay, "My experience is that the shipping companies would Tathcr pay than lnvestirate," said an, importer yesterday. "They pay quite readily when tho proof of pillaging is clear, but obviously this ia not generosity on their part. Theyhave allowed for tho payments in fixing freights. _ Investigation might mean holding a ship in port for days or even a week or _ two after discharge is complete. It is easy enough to appreciate the-point of view' of the shipping company, but tho sjTstem does not tend to discourngo pillaging. It is a fact, of course, that many cases aro not discovered until after the ship has left port, and by that timo thoro may bo difficulty in proving that tho theft did not take place after the consignment left tho ship. Tho difficulties aro very great, and V I am not going to suggest that the methods of the companies aro not good business. But it is clear enough' that if pillaging is to be checked the shipping companies must take a 6crious hand in the effort and make tho sacrifices that may be necessary." •A shipping man to whom tho matter was mentioned said that it would bo unreasonable to ask the shipping companies to hold 6hips while charges of pillaging wero being investigated. "I can quote you a case in point," ho stated. "Hero is a claim in respect of goods valued at J829, reported to be missing from a case consigned from Manchester to Wellington. Tho loss was not reported until tho ship was on the ove of leaving on tho return voyage. The case was discharged from the ship in apparently good order and condition. Now this company cannot tell where tho' pillaging took place-. It may have been anywhero between the store where the case was packed in England and the store where it was unpacked in Wellington. The evidenco of the whole ship's company mightbe taken without throwing the smallest light on the matter, and the delay would cost many hundreds of pounds. The companies meet c'/iims for pillage in a fairly generous spirit. The sort of investigation that is being suggested is a matter for other authorities." A proportion of the pillaging, takes place in New Zealand ports, and tho reporter gathered that importers believed this to be tho point where it could be attacked most profitably. One of the difficulties in tho way is tho natural objection of the waterside workers to such severe supervision as would be necessary to ensure the detection of all thefts from the ship's hcJds. , A genera! system of search at the close of the day's work is considered by the authorities to be impracticable, atthbugh many of the articles that disappear are of. a particularly portable character. Tho waterfront police in Wellington are a very snm'.l force, nnd they do a great deal of work. Most of the convictions for pillaging aro duo to their vigilance, and their presence makes it risky for any ship's hand or waterside worker to leave Ihe wharves with bulky goods in his possession. On various occasions tho police have accosted men who looked suspiciously stout, and have found beneath their clothing such articles as silk stockings, gloves, laces, and women's underwear; but the pillager who is content to take merely a small • quantity of such articles will not present any bulges to tho official eye, and may pass off the wharf among men whose henesty cannot lightly be -questioned. It has been suggested that tho Waterside Workers' Union is tho body that could tackle this part of the pillaging evil with the tat chance of sucThe waterside pof.ico have a limited right of search as far as individuals are concerned; but it appears that they lack the right- to supervise the removal of goods by vehicle from the wharves. This point is important, since much of the pillaging relates to goods that could not nave been removed in concealable lots by hand. Metat bars, largo io'.ls of cloth, bulky crockery, and bits of machinery are among goods that have boen reported missing., A carrier engaged in removing goods from the wharves has to present at tho gates a document showing tho numlicr of packages, and so forth, but the o mount of nntunl supervision appears to to very slight An importer who has had many opportunities to watch tho operations stated yesterday that lie considered the police should be authorised to examine loads occasionally and check the low against tho document. Thero need bo .nothing in this arrangement to offend \he honest majority of enrriors. "Tho pillaging evil is far too serious to 'bo ignored, and it. ought to ho tackled at this end," added this importer. I know that, much of tho pillaging takes place beforo tho goods reach New Zealand, but we are not in a position to protest cifectivo'-y to the shippers and tho shipping companies until we can say with reasonable certainty that the pillaging does not tako p.aco at thi9 end. Tramway authorities find it payu them to employ staffs of inspe:tors to mako Burpriso inspections of inrs day by day. I have not heard that tho conductors regard this ns an insult io them. If the wntersido police in Wellington were ns numerous, in proportlor to tho fiimncinl interests to bo protected, ns tho tramway inspectors aro, pi.lagmg would lie stopped on «<ur waterfront. Then wo might bo nblo to assist in putting down piUagfng at other points. Thero surely is no good reason why this charge.unon the community should be tolerated."