CARGO PILFERING

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1920, Page 3

CARGO PILFERING

VERY SERIOUS CHARGES. j | I AUSTRALIAN 05 N.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION] ! (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 5. ! In the Senate, Mr Earle moved the adjournment, for the discussion of cargo pilfering. He quoted statements that the toll exacted by waterfront workers of Australia exceeded half a million, and including petty pilfering probably the total was over a million. In support of the statement that an organised system was in co-operation, he stated that a boot manufacturer, in order to j prevent thefts, sent all left boots in j one ship and all right boots in another, 1 but two cases from each consignment disappeared. He urged the need for action on the part of the Commonwealth and State Governments and the | unions involved. Mr Pearce declared that, if the statements were true, they constituted a stigma upon the waterfront workers. No self-respecting organisation could sit quiescent under such charges. He had been told that detectives placed on vessels took their lives in their hands. i If they went into ships’ hold, they were in danger from falling cases. He promised to consult tho State Governments ( with a view to taking remedial meas- j