PILLAGING OF CARGO

Southland Times, Issue 24838, 2 September 1942, Page 5

PILLAGING OF CARGO

SCHEME TO CHECK PRACTICE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 1. A protest against Wellington being blamed for more than its share of cargo pillaging was made by Mr W. I. J. Blyth at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce tonight. He referred to a report of a discussion on the subject by the Canterbury Chamber, which one paper headed, “Wellington Alleged A Centre.” That, he said, was a very drastic statement. His information was that a great deal of pillaging occurred on trucks between Christchurch and Lyttelton. At the Canterbury meeting one case of pillaging mentioned was that of £l7B worth of hosiery. Actually that pillaging had occurred in Liverpool and 12 men had been sent to gaol for it. It was very disheartening to find one chamber blasting another chamber or another port. Captain S. Holm said the Associated Chambers had made recommendations designed to reduce pillaging. If pillaging occurred in one part of a ship the names of the men working in that part were listed. It was not a black list, but if a man’s name recurred frequently he might be spoken to. This seemed the only way to track down offenders.