CORONATION-SEATS SWINDLES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 17, 4 February 1937, Page 3

CORONATION-SEATS SWINDLES

Saies by Tenants Who Will be Evicted A L0ND0N RACKET Many people wanting to view the Coronation procession have paid anoney for seats which -will not be available on Coronation Day. Most of the seats and windows in buildings on the route have been offered, * not by owners, but by tenants, and there are instances in which windows hjaye been sold by peclpie whose tenancy will expire before nest May. In such ca^es the deals have been made by "mushrooin," syn'dicatee, which have no need to consider the goodwill of ihe public afier the Coronation. Conflrming information of the sale of these fictitious seats, Mr Campbell Smith told a London reporter: "There may be cases of other saies by tenants who might be evicted before the date of the Coronation. In. both cases, those who have bought the accommodation stand to lose their money and their right to the eeat. "It is safe to say that, conapared with previous proeessions of the .land, more new syndicates have been. formed than ever before. It is just a 1 racket. ' "No doubt, people who have paid for seats which are not available on Coronation, Day would have a right of action for. breach pf contract, but whether they would be able to get damages is another matter. It seems probable, also, that criminal action inight be taken for obtaining money by false pretences. "People who have paid for accommodation, about which they have any doubfc should . make investigations at once. "They could demand that the vehdors of seats should produce their lease. If this request met with a refusal there would be good grounds for suspicion.5'