WARNING TO CAR BUYERS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1929, Page 11

WARNING TO CAR BUYERS

TAUMARUNUI FRAUD CHARGES. ► By Telegraph.—Press Association. ‘ Hamilton, Last Night. A warning to people buying motors to deal with only honest men was-given by Sir Alexander Herdman in the Supreme Court to-day when sentencing two Tan* marunui dealers who confessed to fraudulently selling cars obtained on hire pinchase and still legally belonging to the original vendors. . “Unlees the warning is taken,” said the judge, “persons may pay cash for a vehicle in the belief that he becomes the owner, only to find later that it has been sold to him by a person who has no title to it, the last-mentioned person being only a bailee holding the vehicle under what is popularly known, as a hire purchase agreement. No amount of searching in the Supreme Court office would reveal to the purchaser the existence of this contract, for the law as it stands docs not require that these instruments ehall be registered. Whether or not legislation is required to protect the public is not for me to say.” The prisoners in the case were John M. Bishara and Geoffrey A. Trayhurn, who pleaded guilty to 15 charges of fraud. Each was sentenced to one year’s , hard labour ami two years' reformative treatment.