HOW MONEYLENDERS WORK.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1925, Page 4

HOW MONEYLENDERS WORK.

j EXT 1 KRTS IX PSYCHOLOGY. VICTIMS DRIVEN TO CREME AND SUICIDE. LONDON, November 10. Lord Carson’s decision to raise in the House of Lords the matter of the increasing activities of moneylenders among Civil Servants has directed attention once more to the tricks ol the touting lender. Inquiries made by a newspaper representative disclose the fact that behind the individual efforts of moneylenders is a mysterious secret organisation, from which each and every lender can call for information about victims or likely victims. The usurer’s business is as menacing to the well-being of the State as the dope traffic—and it is organised on an equally extensile scale. There is not a section of society from which moneylenders are not drawing toll, By their exactions they drive men and women to crime and even to death. “The deceased was in the hands oT moneylenders ” is not an uncommon phrase in reports of inquests. ALWAYS WATCHING. They literally hound people from the cradle to the grave. Should a birth announcement appeal 1 , by the next post 1 the parents receive moneylenders’ cir- . culars. t. Should a death be recorded, in the course of a day or two these ghouls 1 have intimated their willingness to 1 lend money or to advance money on - expectations. They are experts in ! psychology. 1 Recently, with the shortage of liousi ing accommodation, they have bom- ; barded people—discovered through • their secret organisation—who have 5 been compelled to buy houses with olI fers of financial accommodation.

Quarter-day. with its bills and liabilities, brings shoals of communications from moneylenders. There is one other point about moneylending which emphasises its similarity to the dope traffic. It is largely in the hands of aliens, many of whom have become naturalised and have adopted English names.

It has been stated that one-half of the junior members of the Civil Service are in the dutches of money-lend-ers. Here is a concrete instance: Two years ago a junior Civil Servant, pressed for money, replied ,to an advertisement in a journal published for Civil Servants, and borrowed Cl, giving a promissory note for C(>. Alter repaving ij'J lie became ill and had to agree lo the offer of the money-lenders to advance another Cti on condition that he repaid Cld. Struggling to makeends meet on his small income, he fell behind in his payments and was compelled to accept the insidious offer of the money-lender to cancel the existing promissory note and enter into a ltcsli transaction. ’The result is that to-day, having received CIO, of which he lias repaid tL’l,’l, he still owes C-IT. WARNING LETTER.

He cannot pay the instalments, and has received letters in which the billowing warning is given:

“ We do not intend to stand any nonsense, and warn you that any Idiill oil your part will be met promptly. Unless you redeem your promise forthwith wo shall obtain a judgement against you for the amount of CD I and apply for an order order attach iug part of your salary each month un til the debts and costs are cleared. This man is but “tie among sev.vs

and obviously a threat to discern the transaction to the beads oi dc-pat I merits in thoiCivil Service ion u lorabK alarms the recipient. H is urged that the Govern i sit, bv paying junior men with small salaries monthly instead of weekly, is P'acLi ally forcing them to apply lo mom vlemlors should emergency arise.