THE PILFERING EVIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2087, 23 May 1907, Page 3

THE PILFERING EVIL.

ITS EXTENT AND CAUSE

VIEWS OE WELLINGTON BUS: NESS AIEN.

A Post reporter spoilt somo time recently in an ondoavor to ascertain whether the i>ilforing evil was on the increase, ills pilgrimage was not exclusively confined to warehouses; it extended to shipping companies, who lmvo to contend with tho cargo oroachor, and to retail houses, whore tho potty thiol and tho dishonest

employee have to be kept under constant survoillanco. On tho lvliolo it would appear that pilfering is more extensively carriod on in tho shops, particularly big shops, than in ware-

houses. Tho manager of ono largo establishment said it was no uso talking of trusting employees—tho honest had to suffer for tho 'dishonest. Ho had found it absolutely necessary to prohibit any omployeo leaving tho premises with a parcel beforo it was examined. A docket system had been introduced, but ovon this did not effectively provent thieving. Only a few days ago a female succeeded in annexing a dress. It was known that small articles regularly disappeared, and the employer was powerless to stamp it out. “Is your annual loss a serious ono?” >the manager of the house was asked.

“Well, it’s such that we find it absolutely necessary to insure against pilfering. Wo have a caso of goods in to-day which- has been tampered with.”

A shipping merchant said ho did not think cargo broaching was on tho increase. As a matter of fact, his experience was that it had constantly decreased since the wharves had oeen securely fencod in a couple of years ago. Eiremen and sailors con - stantly came ashore and offored stolen goods for sale in the stjreet. Eiremen had actually offered for sale to his own clerks, who happened to be at work late, tobacco consigned to his firm and stolen from the cases on board ship 1 In his warehouse no pilfering had been detected. Eortunately ho had a trustworthy staff. The reporter inquired what in the merchant’s opinion was tho cause of pilfering. “Well, I’ll give you my honest and candid opinion,” ho said. “It’s gambling pure and simple. Mind, I’m not a ‘goody goody’ person. I’m not a pillar of the church, and profess to be any better nor Worse Ithan my neighbor, but I am convinced the gambling evil has a lot to do with the matter. Take the average young man nowadays. There’s hardly a race meeting but what he has a bet on. They’ll learn some day that people don’t get rich through following the tote.”

This opinion, it may be mentioned, was confirmed in other quarters. Another retailer said gambling might have a good deal to do with it, but it was not the only factor. Women in shops wore just as bad as men when it came to secretly “lifting” an article and making off with it. Ho rather the evil to a love for superficial show and appearances, an inadequate purse, and a desire to get what one liked at whatever cost, and a consequent lowering of the moral tone.

Another gentleman interviewed told of a case that had come under his notice. The manager of a warehouse one day saw a leave the premises with a basket of goods for a certain retailer. He asked the boy -where the invoice was, blit the lad simply replied that Mr (in charge of the department) had sent him on the errand. Tho boy was requested to say nothing, and two days later was despatched on a like errand by the same employee. Then the manager interposed. The retailer was informed that if he did not

furnish a cheque for eveiy single penny’s worth of goods ho had received he would be criminally prosecuted. The cheque was immediately forthcoming, and the retailer who had conspired with the warehouseman was allowed to go scot free.

Yet another merchant said the existence of the evil was largely due to the disinclination of those victimised to take proceedings against the offenders in court. If examples were made of petty thieves, no matter who or what they were, a decrease in pilfering would soon be noticeable.