IMPRACTICABLE PLAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 803, 25 October 1929, Page 6

IMPRACTICABLE PLAN

CURTAILMENT OF PAWNBROKERS’ OPERATIONS

DISPOSAL OF STOLEN GOODS

Contending that there were avenues, other than pawnbrokers, through which shoplifters could dispose of stolen goods, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Council yesterday decided it could not support certain businessmen’s recommendations for the enactment of legislation to place pawnbrokers under greater supervision. The council regarded the proposals as impracticable. JiUBLIC attention to the prevalence ! of shoplifting and the ease with j which the thieves disposed of their I goods to pawnbrokers was first directed by an article in The Sun, and | since then there have been lively eon- ! ' ribut ions to the controversy from | both sides. Communications on the subject on ! the lines published in this paper were received by the council from the ; Karangahape Road Business Promo- | tion Society and the Auckland Retail Drapers, Millers, Mercers and Clothiers’ Employers. The former organisation suggested that some action should be taken to curtail the operations of pawnbrokers to make it impossible for them to purchase goods suspected to he s-tolen. The latter body considered that legislation should be obtained to make it illegal for pawnbrokers to purchase or receive new wearing apparel or boots unless accompanied by a police permit. Mr. D. Carter said he considered it was deplorable that there should be these avenues available for the disposal of stolen goods. He referred to the claim of a pawnbroker to The Sun, of having been responsible for tlie trapping of a shoplifter and recovery of stolen goods. Mr. Carter said that tlie pawnbroker posed as a public benefactor. “Are pawnbrokers who buy goods not under police supervision?” asked a member. “What about interference with private enterprise,” commented Mr. W, R. Ellingham, amidst laughter. “Pawnbrokers are the easiest avenues for disposal of stolen goods,” remarked another member. Mr. B. A. Eady considered that pawnbrokers were useful to the police in assisting to trace thieves. Mr. M. Stewart argued that if thieves could not sell goods to pawnbrokers they would hawk them from door to door. “It is much easier to recover stolen goods that are sold to pawnbrokers,” said Mr. E. W. J. Bowden. He claimed that pawnbrokers would not buy goods if they knew the articles rvere stolen.

The council agreed that it deplored shoplifting, but could not support the proposed action because of other avenues available to thieves to dispose of goods.