IMPROPER PRACTICE

Evening Star, Issue 24327, 16 October 1942, Page 2

IMPROPER PRACTICE

WATERSIDERS' PURCHASES FROM CREWS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. “ It is a most improper and highly reprehensible practice,”, said Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court to-day, condemning strongly the purchase by. waterside workers of goods from the crews of overseas vessels, which was described by two foremen stevedores,a» being common. “ It has been cheerfully asserted by the defence,” he added, “ that suchi transactions are- perfectly honest, but if that practice is sanctioned the law; about the receipt of stolen property goes overboard. I hope you of the jury will take strong measures to show' that it is highly improper. No wonder pil-, laging is rife when two witnesses have the effrontery to say that it is the practice to buy goods at low prices on ‘boats and ask no questions. “ It is a wrong thing to do, and the men who do that are not fit for their job on the wharf,” continued His Honour. It was a reasonable suggestion that such goods were stolen, and to buy them in that way facilitated their disposal. He thought the statement that such purchases were common wae a slur on the great body of waterside workers. i These remarks were addressed to the jury in the trial of Robert Jame» Smithy a foreman stevedore, who wa* charged with the theft of two holts of suiting or with receiving them, knowing them to have been stolen. The jury disagreed, and a new trial was granted.