LOST PROPERTY.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 330, 11 January 1937, Page 4

LOST PROPERTY.

MONEY AND VALUABLES.

Obligation To Finder To Discover Owner.

Through misfortune, or more often carelessness, a fairly considerable amount of personal possessons is left in Stratford halls and theatres in jthe course of a year. Not a great deal is found ,at the railway station or at the post office, and inquiries made by a “Central Press” reporter revealled that these were rarely of any monetary value. Stratford theatre patrons leave behind a large accumulation of personal possessions but strangely enough there is very little of value among them. Through the courtesy of tfie Manager, a "Central Press" reporter was able to view a miscellaneous collection of articles chiefly left by children. School caps, handkerchiefs and purses, were fairly numerous, while adult’s possessions were repre- 1 sented by odd gloves or inexpensive handbags. Though of little value, the articles are retained by the management for a period of twelve months ant then anything worth saving is handed to the Welfare Officer.

Unemployed Benefited,

Strangely enough, during the period of the depression, more valuable and more useful property was left in the theatre and at the end of the year a distribution was macle to unemployed. Money and valuables are usually claimed, and whenever there is a clue to the identity of the owners the theatre management immediately gets in touch with them. One of the big finds made by the staff was a haudlbag left by a Wellington woman containing £36 in notes. It was locked in a safe and within a short time was recovered by her husband, who walked off without even a word of thanks. In another case a wallet containing £7 W'as found and fortunately the contents were checked over with a police constable at the time of discovery. The owner, who had been enjoying himself with friends throughout the day, notified the police of his loss, stating that the wallet had contained £lO, and It was somewhat difficult to convince him that he had spent the missing £3 in "refreshments.” Next day, however, he, sent a reward tor the finder but this was returned in accordance witli the policy of the' management not to allow any of the staff to accept such rewards.

Disposal by Auction. “We have very little lost property at any time and the same also applies to unclaimed goods,” stated the stationmaster, Mr R. Bowie, in reply to an inquiry. Articles found are sent to the Lost Property Office at Wanganui. After being kept for a week, they are then sold by auction. For last year’s sale a package unclaimed by a consignee was all that was sent. At the Post Office anything of value found is advertised on the notice boards, explained Mr R. W. Cardno, Acting-Postmaster. Invariably large packages were claimed and there had been only one or tw'o cases where money was not inquired for. After a lapse of time money or articles of value were sen; to the Chief Post Office at Wellington. Altogether there was not a great deal of property left in a year .said Mr Cardno. Unlawful Conversion.

There was no legal obligation upon a finder of lost property to notify the police, Sergeant C. M. Annis informed an interviewer. But the law eqjoins that every effort must be to find the rightful owner. It niust be sufficiently advertised and if the owner is not found immediately the valuables or money must be retained

for a reasonable time, otherwise a charge of unlawful conye-s’on might follow. Occasionally someone will bring in a £1 note picked up in the street, but not a great deal of money or property is left at th 6 police station .in the course of the year. Money and all unperishable goods are retained by the police for twelve months, after which they become the property of the finder. Last year the highest sum handed in was a £5 note, which was duly claimed. Recently’ a child brought in a £1 note found in the street and within a few minutes there was an inquiry for it at the station.