GERMAN PAWNSHOPS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2738, 15 November 1894, Page 3

GERMAN PAWNSHOPS.

A recent number of London, continu ing its investigation of the pawnshop ■yatem, describes the pawnshops of Germany: Theie is a Royal pawshop in Berlin, there are State pawnshops, Ducal pawnshops, county pawnshops, city or municipal pawnshops, and private pawnshops. The municipal and private pawnshops may both exist in the same town The rate of interest was fixed by a law passed in 1881 at not more than 24 pe; cent, per annum on loans under thirty marks; aud not over 12 per cent, on larger ■urns. In Berlin the pawnshop ia a Royal institution, aud is not allowed to make a profit. Its surplus goes to charitable purposes. At Hanau no interest is charged on loans up to three marks, if the articles are redeemed within six days. At Hof, in Baden, people are allowed to raise money •gainst the receipt of wages. At Weimai and Hanau anonymous pawning is the rule No names are asked and no address given Provision is made at Memel for merchant: depositing goods in time of temporary em barrassment. At Bautzeu raw wool is received in pledge. At Bromberg military accoutrements are excluded from the artioJeß which may be pawned. The pawn ■hop at Detmold will not receive article in pawn from servants withontthecousunt of their masters. At Altenberg and one or two other places no one is allowed to pawc articles of more than 200 marks yajue without the consent of the Town Council. Al'though private pawnbrokers exist alongside the muriicipal institutions, in many tqwru tfw WfW* *? d ° tmiinw? with'the'former, dealers and pawnbrokers are specially prohibit d from i : e*»Wng to tho inume-pat n wnsjiops. ' A Halutary regulation ag,.luM Ling hi pawn tickets u frequently en forced? »l>e «'*» «rf Marest A '«tw»t«» • great deal in Germany,'and u foi gqaVwiw leut *»* B^,r? P *«' average is about 12 per 6}>iltj «*•* * 4«Miad »«"•'•—* v/n loan 0 ..00i secunnort 4 or 5 per cent.