SECOND HAND GOLD

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1932, Page 6

SECOND HAND GOLD

RESERVED JUDGMENT GIVEN,

DEALERS AND THE LAW

(Per Press ’Association — Copyright.)

WANGANUI, November 17

The reserved judgment of Mr Justice Reed, delivered at the Supreme Court this afternoon, upheld the appeal of i John Walsh, detective, again the decision of Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., in respect to an information laid by the police against a man who was dealing- in second hand gold. The contention' 1 h'f the appellant was that, if the decision of the Magistrate was correct, and people were allowed to purchase gold without a license under tho Second Hand Dealers’ Act, thieves would be afforded facilities to get rid of ill-gotten gains. H : s 'Honour’s judgment points .out that the Act of 1908, is a consolidation’ of the Act of 1902. In arriving at his decision to uphold the appeal, he has reviewed two important sections defining second hand dealers, and points out that, to be excluded from the,, operations of the Act, the onus is on a person to show that lie does not carry on the, business purchasing second hand articles except for a purpose of manufacturing articles therefrom. In this case there was prima facie evidence that the accused was a second hand dealer without a license, and had not furnished proof that he was manufacturing articles from the gold he was so purchasing.