PILLAGING OF GOODS

Southland Times, Issue 24831, 25 August 1942, Page 5

PILLAGING OF GOODS

Christchurch Firms’ Losses (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 24. Six cases of the pillaging of goods valued at a total sum of £1234 have been submitted to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce by business firms in Christchurch after the recent special meeting to discuss the increase in cargo pillaging. These cases and four others, in which the value' of the stolen goods was not given, will be passed on to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, which has been asked to approach the Prime Minister and ask for severer penalties for pillaging offences. The cases submitted by the firms reveal that pillagers have been taking in many instances goods either rationed or in short supply. Silk stockings, knitting wool and needles, hot water bags, household linen and tea have all been taken from overseas New Zealand shipments. A firm which had claims .totalling £627 lost mending wool, children’s clothing, stockings and 15 pairs of sheets. Another firm’s £257 worth of losses in three months included silk stockings, cotton tape, knitting needles, pipes, hair combs, manicure sets, gum boots and cardigans. One firm lost £4O worth of knitting wool, dress material and children’s clothing. Liquor, tobacco, eggs and chemists’ supplies have also been pillaged' in recent months. One firm reported that it had lost £ll4 worth of beer and spirits since October, including eight dozen bottles of liquor. Other cases include nearly 10 dozen eggs consigned to the 'North Island, 201 b of tea, tobacco, 500 cigarettes, £l2 worth of chemists’ supplies, including 25 hot water bags, pots of cold cream, and 41b of senna leaves firm.

Booksellers were given an example of the, deliberation with which pillagers work. A firm lost 28 dictionaries. from cases in June. Early this month it lost 100 books from cases which showed no signs of having been opened. Another firm lost 88 books, all novels and general literature. Although there were three or six copies of each of certain titles, the pillagers did not take more than one of each. The landed value of the books was approximately £l6.