Gold Stealing.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 699, 27 October 1909, Page 5

Gold Stealing.

For some time past the matter of gold stealing from mining properties lias received the earnest consideration of the New Zealand Employers' Federation with a view to preventing any further acts of gold thieves. At a recent meeting of the Federation it was decided to forward the following memorandum to the Minister of Mines, asking for legislation for the suppression of gold stealing : —" Gold is of such a nature that it is impossible to identify it as the product of any particular mine. Therefore, unless a thief is caught red-handed, or admits his guilt, it is practically impossible to obtain a conviction. A great deal of gold stealing is known to have taken place on the West Coast, and yet for nearly 20 years only one conviction has taken place, and in that case the accused pleaded guilty. Many instances are known of men selling gold who had no means of coming by its honesty, but as no one could identify the gold, it was impossible to prosecute. The only persons likely to be adversely affected by the alteration in the law are the thieves, as at the present time no one has the right to possess gold except a producer or a registered gold buyer. If a gold-buyer were charged with stealing gold, and it was honestly'come by, he could turn up his register showing details of his purchase, and a producer would never have any difficulty in showing that he was a producer, and the class of gold ho was getting. The clause proposed to bo inserted in the Mining Act Amoudineut Bill is as follows :—' Auy person charged with theft of gold shall be doomed to have stolen the same if the court is satisfied that such person has been in possession of gold within oue year prior to information being laid charging him with theft thereof, uuless the person accused proves that such gold came lawfully into his possession, and in any information or indictment' it shall not be necessary to allege, or, on the hearing or trial, to prove, the ownership of the gold.' "