Pillaged

“Maui Pomare” Cargo Pillaged Ship’s Long Stay In Mangaia

From Our tlangaia Correspondent BESIDE the excessive time taken to lighter and load-up the motor-vessel, “Maui Pomare,” between April 22 and 25, the inward cargo received here at Mangaia has been found to be pillaged.

In addition, the consignment of furniture from NZ for the RA, Major W. H. Ryan, on delivery was in a shocking condition.

While this may be blamed upon care less stowage in NZ and more careless handling in the Islands, it may also be due to the amateurish packing of the goods at place of purchase. —soft paper was tied around chair legs, etc., and over mirrors. This had no effect at all in taking the force of a drop or blow aboard the. ship.

In the case of the goods landed short, these comprised salmon, lemonade (bottled in NZ) and bacon. The bacon, whole sides, was packed in cases; these had been opened, each side neatly cut in two and half abstracted, and then the case nailed up again. There was no apparent broaching visible, the job being done so neatly that it is suspected as being not the work of natives. The lemonade simply vanished.

As Mangaia has no wharf, the question of claims is not very clear, but it would seem that shippers are able to disclaim all responsibility once any item has left the ship’s sling, under the law affecting anchorages and roadsteads. In the case of goods landed, but on opening found “short,” there would appear to be no re dress for the unfortunate consignee.

THE three-days stay of the ship was the longest off Mangaia reef in the whole of her local service.

There was an exceptionally large cargo this call, exceeding the customary 4,000 cases of a first trip of the orange-season.

Secondly, the local labour, like that of Rarotonga, will no longer work even a steamer on Sunday. Schooners never were lightered upon the sabbath, but until re cently any steamer or motor-vessel, anxious to complete loaning and avoid the loss of costly fuel, was worked after morn ing church. More devout to-day, the is landers make no exceptions—the ship just has to wait for Monday, lying idle off the reef. The expense to the opera tors can be imagined; but no protests are of any avail, this island taking its policy, and perhaps its instructions, from the CIPA in matters affecting the conditions and payment of hired labour.

The combination of piety and increased wages is a headache for the Administra tion, and in turn, the IMD. With wages and prices spiralling, and no Sunday work, the Mangaian planter is still wondering why prosperity is still around the corner, although the price he receives for his fruit is higher than ever before.