"TOURING FRAUDS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19031, 30 May 1925, Page 12

"TOURING FRAUDS."

BARGAINS IN SUIT-LENGTHS. TWO MEN FINED £lO EACH. As a sequel to complaints from residents in various suburbs regarding two men in nautical outfits engaged in what is known as "shoddy dropping," Victor Jarnos Scott and Charles Watts wero prosecuted in tho Polico Court yesterday for hawking without: licenses. Neither defendant appeared. Detective Meiklejohn said defendants had conducted a door-to-door canvass, offering lengths of tweed for sale. They carried the goods in a motor car and, aided by their convincing uniform caps and soi-Ko suit;; of the double-breasted style, they had no difficulty in creating tlio impression that they wero "Jacks ashore." Tho procedure was the same in each case.. The curious householder would lie shown a suit-length and the information would be imparted with impressive secrecy that the cloth had escaped the vigilance of the customs officials and was an unprecedented bargain. Tho imposition was not without profitable, effect. The Magistrate, Mr. Poynton: It. is an old, old fraud. People think they aro getting a great bargain. Chief-Detective Cummings: Scott has been in trouble before. They havo plenty of monev. Mr. Povnton: Touring frauds. Each was fined £lO, in default one month's imprisonment.