CARGO MUSING.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1919, Page 3

CARGO MUSING.

WELLINGTON, Feb. 2(5. Pillaging on the. wharves was mentioned at the meeting of the Wellington/ Harbour Board to-night. Much was made of the fact that recent losses included live hundredweight of copper ,which the Board had not succeeded in tracing. The Board had a heavy hill to meet every month for goods that had been stolen on the wharves. The chairman, (Mr, C, E. Daniel) said he had to admit that a great deal of pillaging went on, although the Board had taken all the precautions that’ appeared feasible. The Board had assisted the police, and taken special precautions on its own account. He did not believe that all the thieving was done on the wharves. A great I deal of ij, tyas donp on (.he ships before j tl.iey .reached Welliiigjfcon, and after they arrived, but there was much loss after the goods reached (he hands of the Board, and there was proof that somebody in the city received tin. goods. The nature of the losses indicated that the thieves had a market. He thought that the courts were to,, lenient in dealing with offenders wii.'ii convictions hud beqn recorded, The Board after discussion, empowered the executive to take any steps that might be considered desirable including the offerings of rewards. Several nunebers urged that the shoufd be asked to take a more severe yie\y of pillaging than they had been doing. The offence was hard to detect, and it ought to be treated very rigorously,