THE GREATEST INDUSTRY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 225, 23 February 1928, Page 3

THE GREATEST INDUSTRY.

AMERICA’S AMAZING DISHONESTY. “ The United States Steel Corporation is not the biggest industry in the United States. Neither is General Motors nor the billion-'dollar enterprise of Henry Ford. A £600,000,000 traffic in stolen goods is America’s major industry. When phases or correlated enterprises are reckoned with, the ghastly thing well may be considered as a £2,000,000,000 project. The cost is saddled on the ‘ overhead charge ’ and included in the operating account of legitimate business. It turns up finally and eventually in the ‘ expense account ’ of every housewife in America,” writes David Barry in a recent issue of the New York Evening World. “ This biggest business of all in modern America is headed by two characters. Both trade on the indifference of the public, the misinformation of lawmakers, the leniency of the courts and the incomprehensible refusal of legitimate business to arm for defence of its own cash drawers. The firm is described by District Attorney Banton, of New York City, as that of Fagin and Fence! ‘ The one is that person who corrupts the useful employee and entices him to steal, and the other is that person who receives the proceeds of larceny,’ Mr. Banton declares. This criminal firm is the shrewdest and most dangerous in America to-day. It is doing a business of £600,000,000 a year. It is the most highly organised criminal institution known to-day. It is nation wide.”