PILLAGE OF GOODS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 280, 25 August 1942, Page 4

PILLAGE OF GOODS

Firms Supply Instances

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 24.

‘Six cases of pillaging goods valued at a total sum of £1234 have been submitted to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce by business firms in Christchurch following a special meeting to discuss the increase in cargo pillaging. These cases and four others in which the value of the stolen goods has not been given will be passed on to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, which have 'been asked to approach the Prime Minister to ask for severer penalties for pillaging offences. The cases submitted by the firms reveal that pillagers have been taking in many cases of goods either rationed or in short supply. Silk stockings, knitting wool and needles, hot water bags, household linen and tea have all been taken from overseas New Zealand shipments. A firm which had claims totalling £627 lost mending wool, children’s do thing, stockings, and fifteen pairs of sheets. Another firm’s £257 worth of losses in three months includes silk stockings, cotton tape, knitting needles, pipes, hair combs, manicure sets, gum boots and cardigans. Forty pounds worth of knitting wool, dress materials and children’s clothing were pillaged from another firm’s goods. Liquor, tobacco, eggs and chemists’ supplies have also been pillaged in recent months. One firm reported the loss of £ll4 worth of beer and spirits since October. Other cases include nearly ten dozen eggs consigned to the North Island, £2O worth of tea and tobacco, £l2 worth of chemists’ supplies, including 25 hot water bags, pots of cold cream, and four pounds of senna leaves. A firm of booksellers has given an example of the deliberation with which pillagers work. This firm lost 28 dictionaries from cases in June. Early this month it lost 100 books from cases which showed no signs of hav- i ing been opened. There were 88 books from one firm, all novels and general literature. Though there were three or six copies of certain titles the pillagers did not rake more than'one of each. The landed value of the books was approximately £l6.