The Chronicle LEVIN. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1916. PUBLIC CARRIERS' RESPONSIBILITIES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 May 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1916. PUBLIC CARRIERS' RESPONSIBILITIES.

Last week, a telegram to The Chronicle recorded the fact that certain pilterors of oranges that were in transit oil the Mew Zealand railways had been convicted and diealt with in a. "salutary way. The example thus set wa,< needed, for the fact is well established that the theft of goods sent by rail is a prevalent evil. For years past the length of line between Levin and Wellington hfffi""been locally notorious by reason of such offences. Consignors of poultry, eggs and fruit have bi-cn robbed in this manner time after time, and the knowledge is widespread amongst <•' local consignors that goods consigned by evening trains are peculiarly liable to such interference with safe transit. Nowadays, most local consignors avoid the sending of goods by evening trains as mnch as possible, bnt there are occasions .-n which this irs unavoidable. One oi The Chronicle's informants has railed poultry to Wellington time after time vibliiMt ascertained loss, but on a re cent occasion when lie sent them by an oxprrss train one of them failed to reach the auctioneers. Other informants of The Chronicle say that they have had experiences much less satisfactory than this; in fact there was a time, some three or four years ago, when it was the rule not the exception) for egg crates to reach their destination several diozens of eggs short of the aggregate they contained on being put into the trucks at Lev ; n. Whether the robberies take place in this town, at a wayside station, during the time of transit from Wellington the auction mart, or even after, •§ a matter hard of proof; but the fact that thefts do occur is incontrovertible ; there are too many reputable witnesses ns to the losses for these to bo fairly attributable to mistakes in counting or to mishaps of a.ny description. The remedy for such a staid of affairs is not easy to suggest; bu! possibly n railway detective might be usefully employed on (the line. The offences continue to the Dresent time ; at least one instance was recorded last week m the case of a Beach road; farmer who eent goods to Wellington.