VALUELESS CHEQUES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 128, 21 May 1908, Page 4

VALUELESS CHEQUES.

CASHED WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. SECLICE.NCE UF TKADESI'EOI'LE. JUDICIAL COMMENT. The ease with which valueless cheques can be cashed was the subject of judicial comment at the Wellington Supreme Court ou Monday. When th • (Irand Jury returned to the Court after having coprpletcd its task the foreman (Mr. F. Townsend) addressed ills Honor -Mr. Justice Chapman as follows: —'! have been asked to expres s to you the surprise of the Grand Jury at the ease v-ith which cheques which have come before us in certain cases were cashed by, ahsumedly, business people. In one it the cheques in question the amount was not even tilled in the body, nor was the signature of another complete. Then again another bore the date of Iwclv"

I months ago. Another matter which I ; have been asked to mention is the habit ; of publicans in issuing blank cheques to puojiiu in a partly intoxicated conI dition. That, wc think, tends to crime in a greater degree than in the past.'' Ilis Honor in reply said:—"l am glad you have referred to this matter. The subject lias, I may mention, been ni lining in my mind for some time. I have drawn attention to the fact here, and I have ako had Occasion to make observations on the subject elsewhere. The passing of small valueless cheques is U'coniing quite a common offence in this province and in other parts of the Dominion as well. I can only attribute it. as you did, to the ease with which absolute strangers seem to be able to get cheque* cashed. I don't know why it iso. If the attention of the public idniwn to the fact it will, I think, do good. I thank you for your observation" on. the subject. As you are aware, ir a man makes up his mind to get hold of a blank cheque form he can a rt a rule do so. Ranks find it necessary to sell cheques at the counter, and if a man having a decent appearance asks lor one he can get it. What you mention, also, that publicans readily hand out cheque,; lo customers, is a thing which cerlainlv ought to be checked, though I can'! suggest any way by which that can be done unless licensing commit tees care lo draw I lie attention of publican* lo the practice, and caution them auninsl il. I don't know bow far thai «ill prove jclVeciual; it might have a slight tendency |'o r g,«>(l in this direction. I am ".lad \im have made (he observations, hecau-e publicity alwavs does some good." Hi- Honor then thanked the jury for Hi" careful manner in which thev bad attend-d to their dntie H and discharged Iheiii from further attendance.