CARGO PILLAGING

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1921, Page 3

CARGO PILLAGING

INQUIRY IN AUSTRALIA

JOURNALISTS AND THEIR INY INSTIGATIONS.

The Royal Co in miss ion on Wharf Pilfering held its first session in Melbourne last M'eek.

The Commissioner, Mr MeEarlane, said at the outset, that the terms of the Commission Mere l'ar-reaching, and it would, therefore, he necessary for overseas and inter-Statc shipping companies, marine insurance companies, the police and Customs officials, and the* associations to which tile men belong uho Mere in any May connected with the discharge and delivery of cargo, to give all the assistance in their power. Ambrose Pratt, journalist, stated that ho had obtained information regarding wharf-pilfering from various sources, among them being Mr P. Wade, chief of the private detective force, operating at the wharves. The statement lie had published in an*aitide to the effect that an organised gang of wharf labourers, in which certain Customs officials Mere concerned, was engaged in pillaging on the wharves ho had also received from Mr Wade. David Henry Clark, journalist, said he had been informed by detectives and merchants that men known to have been convicted of thieving were working on. the wharves and wearing the union, badge. He had written an article, in. which tho Waterside Workers’ Federation had been challenged to deny Hsome of its members were convicted thieves. The organisation had not replied. AMOUNTS OF PILLAGES.

Ernest Thomas Hall, acting-collector j of Customs in Victoria, since February j Ist last, and formerly an Australian j Customs Officer in New York, said he , was preparing a list of all the pillages j reported during 1920. The return indicated strongly that the hulk of tin* pillaging took place overseas because the shipping companies had paid claims on them, thus indicating that the pillage had taken place before delivery. Tie thought that if fences were put round the wharves the evil could he better controlled. S. D. Leslie, insurance manager, said his firm carried out marine insurance. The claims paid for loss by pillage by his company for the year ended Octoger, 1920 amounted to £5128. These were almost all in respect of overseas ships. W. Fathers, secretary of tin* Marine Undenvriters and Salvage Association, said the claims paid by th<> firms who were members of the association on account of cargo pillaged for the twelve months ended October 31st, 1920 amounted to £2732 on account of overseas, and £1312 for Tnter-Stnte vessels. His association represented fortv-tlir<v companies. The conference adjourned until a later date,