PILFERING ON WHARVES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9615, 8 October 1909, Page 7

PILFERING ON WHARVES.

AN ALARMING STATEMENT. I By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, October 7. A somewhat alarming statement with regard to pilfering on the wharves was made by counsel for the employers in lha waterside workers' dispute, which came before the Arbitration Court. "Since the inception of the award, and despite the preference to unionists' clause," Mr Smith declared, "there has been an increase in pi if ering of from 250 to 300 per cent. The Union Company's losses since 1907 total £344 lis. - '

Mr Justice Sim: You don't say that preferer.ee is responsible? Mr.Smith: Whatl say is that the officials have not carried out their duties as they should. The union has introduced a system of fining members for piifering. They don't report the fact to the employers, though, but keep it to themselves. His Honour: Then the fines go to the iund of the union?

The secretary of the union (Mr Collett), when giving evidence later, said that he was not aware of the existence of any system of fining memberj for pilfering. "Only one case of pilfering," he declared,, "has been sheeted home to a member of the urrion, and that was three weeks ago. We understand that his case is to be re-heard, but if it goes against him he 'will have to get out of the union." The wharves, he said, had been a dumping-ground for an undesirable element of the unemployed.