Misuse Of Cheques And Car Registration Papers (New Zea tuna Press Association)

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28415, 23 October 1957, Page 12

Misuse Of Cheques And Car Registration Papers (New Zea tuna Press Association)

AUCKLAND, October 22. The apparent ease with which persons were able to obtain cheque books from banks and then use them illegally, and the apparent ease with which others were able to register stolen vehicles gave concern to the authorities, said Mr Justice North when delivering his charge to the grand jury at the opening of the criminal sessions in the Auckland Supreme Court today. He considered both matters could be easily rectified.

“The Courts frequently have before them persons charged with obtaining money by fraud,” his Honour said. “One of the most common ways is by handing over cheques which, to use common parlance, ‘bounce.’ It seems to be a simple matter for a person of no character or means to open an account and then obtain cheque books on which they subsequently operate, using the cheques in shops and other places. “It has often puzzled judges that persons can go into shops and apparently pay for goods by cheque without question. Those versed in commerce may be able to argue against any criticism of shopkeepers’ actions, and to explain they have to take these risks or perhaps run the greater risk of offending bona fide customers. “It does seem to me, however, that it should be necessary before an unknown person is allowed to open an account in a bank and walk out with 50 or 100 cheque forms that he should be vouched for by some person of standing. ’ Car Registrations His Honour then commented on the issue of motor-vehicle registration papers in referring to a case set down for hearing. His

Honour said it seemed that someone, whether it was the accused or not, was able to obtain from a country post office the registration papers for a non-existing car and then, possessed of the number plates, stole a car in Auckland and subsequently sold it to a dealer in Wellington, using the number plates he had obtained from the post office and presenting the registration papers to the purchaser.

“It seems to me that it should be a simple matter to require that a person seeking to register a car should be vouched for by some reputable citizen,” said his Honour. “At the present moment it is all too easy for dishonest persons to acquire registration papers, and most persons quite wrongly think that the production of the registration papers shows that the seller has a good title to the car.

“All lawyers know, however, that registration papers are not at the present time documents of title.”