MODERN FORGERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1920, Page 12

MODERN FORGERS.

REMEDIES AGAINST CRIME. Science has always its remedies against crime, states a writer in the Daily Mail. The fact that paper money is so * universally used to-day is plain proof that in the long run science defeats the forger. Governments and banks rely mainly on the fact that genuine notes are engraved and printed almost regardless of cost, and that only the best materials are used. The work is done in large establishments, with costly plant and bv the best workmen.

Barmash, the most skilful of latterday forgers, has said that bank notes should be printed in many different colours, "This," he added, "would make them too difficult to imitate; forgery would cease to pay and thus stop."

But bankers have no faith in colored notes. So long ago as 1829 a note was adopted by the Committee of Treasury, with a broad border printed in every color of the rainbow. It, was found unsatisfactory and abandoned. At present, as for many years past, the Bank of England relies principally for protection on the quality of its paper. The best imitations ever produced of Bank of England notes came from Rumania in 1913. Paper and printing were so perfect as to deceive all but experts, who pointed out that the watermark hnd not been stamped into the paper with the requisite degree of force.

With regard to cheques, the ideal is a paper witli a -"fugitive" aurface- That is one which, with the slightest rubbing, will lose its surface. Most cheques are embossed with the name on the back in tiny letters, and have this "fugitive" surface. So any attempt tb rub out figures removes these letters and makes it plain that the cheque has been tampered with. The simple rules for writing cheques should always be observed. Write with a thick nib. Keep the figures close together and as near the border line as possible. All cheques sent through the post should bo crossed, and, if oosfiible, crossed with the name of the payee's hank. An added grecaution is to make the cheque "not negotiable."