it should be. Now the florist has the sad look. “The same authority also tells of a case in Brooklyn, N. Y., where a small boy called in at a grocery store one day and handed over a list of groceries and a cheque for one hundred and fifty dollars. The grocer picked up the cheque and looked at it. It had been issued by the United States Government. The small RED BIRD CAFE MANG FU, Manager GOOD FOOD QUICK COURTEOUS SERVICE Opposite McDonald Hotel on George Street Prince George British Columbia [== roa = = = ] Phone 165-X-1 P.O. Box 254 POLLARD BROS. LIMITED Successors to B.A. Motordrome E. L. POLLARD L. J. POLLARD Body and Fender Repairs, Painting | Oxy-Acetylene Welding H Garage Work Guaranteed on All Makes | ; of Cars | B.A. GAS and OIL PLYMOUTH and CHRYSLER CARS FARGO TRUCKS PRINCE GEORGE British Columbia WAYSIDE INN MEALS and LIGHT LUNCHES | ALL WHITE HELP Third Avenue | PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. COMMODORE HOTEL AND CAFE Good Rooms with Running Hot and | Cold Water A Good Place to Stay and a Good Place to Eat PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. Compliments of HETHERINGTON LUMBER Co. LTD. WHOLESALE MARKETING SERVICE e Box 687 PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. Page One Hundred boy explained that his father, a worker in the Navy Yard, had recently moved the family to this neighbourhood, and had told him to cash the cheque at the grocery store. The order was filled and the lad cautioned to take care of the hundred and forty-six dollars change which was handed to him. The grocer made no effort to have the lad write the payee’s name. If he had done so, he would have recog- nized the same immature handwriting, and known the lad had forged the endorse- ment. Naturally, a few days later the forged endorsement was detected, and the grocer debited with the full hundred and fifty dollars. “Juvenile trends in forgery of cheques was commented upon by the Honourable E. Marvin Underwood, United States Judge for the Northern District of Geor- gia, when he addressed the Grand Jury at Atlanta, Ga., in October, 1944, with the following remarks : ““These (forgery) offences have be- come more common during the war period due to the fact that the Government has had to issue such a vast number of bonds, cheques, and other obligations, and to the fact that merchants and business men have been inexcusably lax and negligent in cashing them without proper endorse- ment and identification of the holders. Such carelessness has afforded temptation and opportunity, especially to the young, to commit crime, and the result has been a great increase in juvenile delinquency in this form. ““Those who are asked to cash these obligations should realize it is not only the small amount they lose that is in- volved, but is also and principally the character damage that is occasioned, if not caused, by their thoughtlessness and negligence. ““While the offenders are sought out and punished, those who furnish the op- portunity for such dereliction should awake to the realization of their part in the transaction, and as a preventive, see to it that no obligation is cashed without proper endorsement and identification.’ “T have given you an outline of the more common types of cheque frauds. There are many more, but time does not permit covering them all. “This increase in fraud, which has risen two or three hundred per cent during re- cent years, calls for concerted action. The police have been doing their part. This is shown by the corresponding increase in convictions for crimes of this kind. How- ever, punitive action is not enough. We should all work together on a preventive campaign. You represent an excellent cross-section of that part of the business world which comes in closest contact with the public, and | therefore can think of no better missionaries than yourselves to propagate anti-fraud measures. “You must realize that the policeman is a little diffident in telling the business man how to run his business, but you, as credit grantors, are under no such handi- cap. I am of the opinion that if all Credit Grantors’ Associations, Retail Merchants’ Associations, Boards of Trade and kin- dred organizations circularized their mem- bership, telling them of the types of fraud that are currently being perpetrated, and what measures to take in their prevention, there would be immediate and noticeable results. It might also be well 1f the assist- ance of the local newspapers and radio stations could be enlisted for such a cam- paign, and | am sure that help would be given by these progressive agencies. “A draft has been prepared of material which could be included in such a cireu- lar. It outlines methods used by the cheats, and what to watch for. There are also a number of suggestions made, which the business man could adopt in his own protection, and that of business in general. “TRUST is the keystone of our modern credit system. The cheat and fraud is slowly but surely loosening this keystone, so that artificial shoreing becomes neces- sary to keep the edifice from collapsing. Will you help?” Conclusion of address. . A circular has since been prepared for distribution to any business man who re- quests a copy. Application should be made to your closest B.C. Police office, and one will be mailed to you. BRIDE of young constable: “I’m so an- noyed with Jim. There are always but tons missing from his cute new police tunic.” Aunt Martha: “Maybe they are not sewn on with strong linen thread.” 3ride: “I guess you're right. Jim doesn’t take much time with his sewing.” PRISON Visitor: “So you're here for seven years. What's the charge?” Convict: “Lumme, guvnor, there ain't no charge. Everything’s free ’ere.” Agenis for THE SHOULDER STRAP are located in the following towns: BELLA COOLA—Clifford R. Kopas CAMPBELL RIVER—The Bee Hive COURTENA Y—Courtenay Drug Store CRANBROOK—Beattie-Noble DAWSON CREEK—Dawson Creek Pharmacy DUNCAN—Westwell’s FERNIE—Fernie Pharmacy FIELD—Y.M.C.A. HOUSTON—Jan Koning KAMLOOPS—R. F. Burns KELOWNA— Morrison’s News Stand D. R. Butt & Sons NANAIMO—Bob’s Confectionery Nanaimo News Stand—206 Commercial St NELSON—Valentine News & Stationery PENTICTON—Penticton Stattonery PORT ALBERNI—West Coast Drugs PRINCE GHORGE—Panama News PRINCE RUPERT—W. J. McCutcheon REVELSTOKE—Revelstoke Drug Co. Ltd. SALMON ARM—The Tavern Inn SIDNEY—Avenue Cafe SMITHERS—wW, T. Wark, Druggist Poe eee W. Riley ——Partridge’s New é VANCOUVER—~ ip veet Hudson's Bay Co. David Spencer Ltd. _ McBain Stationery, 5993 Fraser VERNON—Brooker'’s Library VICTORIA— Victoria Book Hudson’s Bay ' Horseshoe News WSLLS—Riley’s Confeotionery WILLIAMS LAKE—Armstrong Drug Store THE SHOULDER STRAP Ave. & Stationery Co