FRAUD CHARGES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 31, 16 November 1943, Page 2

FRAUD CHARGES.

FIVE ALLEGED OFFENDERS.

TIMBER FOR PURCHASE BOARD,

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 15. Charged with intent to defraud hy attempting to obtain from the United States Joint Purchasing Board sums of money by falsely representing that the grade or quality of certain timber supplied w r as higher than the timber actually supplied, five executive members of timber companies -appeared before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day.. The men charged and the amounts involved were: Wilfred Henry Banks (Papanui Timber Company), £280; John Cyril Southern Bush (C. E. Otley, Ltd.), £l6; William Joseph Loader (Western Timber Company), £26; Harold Candlish Smart (W. W. Keighley and Co.), £lB, and Harry Thomas Stubberfield (Riccarton Timber Company), £lO. Charles Edward Trippner, one of the defendants, failed to appear and the charge against him was stood down.

\ Mr A. W. Brown, with him Mr T. A. Gresson, prosecuted, Mr G. G. Lockwood appeared for Banks and Mr C. S. Thomas for the other defendants. Alfred Owen Wilkinson (secretary to the North Canterbury Timber Merchants’ Association) said that a circular which he had sent to Association members showed the grades required for the timber ordered by the Controller. After ascertaining what the various merchants could supply, said witness, he had worked out an allocation which he sent to the Papanui Timber Company. Another allocation was sent to the North Canterbury Timber Company. Mr Brown: Was there any change at any time in the grades of the timber specified?—No. Witness was questioned by Mr Brown whether he knew that the timber was intended for the American naval hospital in New Caledonia, and he replied that he did not know its destination. All he knew was that it had been an order for the United States Joint Purchasing Board. When shown a copy of his own circular in January, which indicated that it was for the hospital, witness said he had forgotten that fact, and the circular had refreshed his memory.

Rejected After Inspection

James Frederic Lysaght, an officer of the State Forest Service, Rotorua, and the grading officer, said he had inspected timber at the Butler Timber Company’s yards, also at the Jarrah Timber Company’s yard: The inspection had lasted from March 2 to 24. A quantity of timber had been picked out that had been supplied by the Papanui Timber Company and the North Canterbury Timber Company. Of the 22,700 board feet of 4 x 2 timber supplied by the Papanui Timber Company, 10,589 board feet had been condemned.

John Irving Cook (now in the Army and formerly a forester employed by the State Forestry Service at Hanmer Springs) said he had assisted in the inspection and grading of the timber. Witness said he had heard Lysaght’s evidence, which he corroborated. He agreed with the grading performed by that officer. Evidence as to the railing of timber on February 3 by the Papanui and North Canterbury Companies was given by Leo O’Malley, stationmaster at Papanui. It was dispatched to Lyttelton, he said, for the United States Joint Purchasing Boai’d.

A Police Interview.

How he had interviewed accused on June 3 was related by DetectiveSergeant McClung, who said Banks admitted being in charge of the Papanui and North Canterbury Companies. Acciised was also aware, said witness, that the order was for the United States Joint Purchasing Board, but when questioned as to wether he had supervised the dispatch of the order he declined to reply. Mr Brown: Did you ask him if he had purchased any second - grade timber? —Yes, but he declined to answer. Witness said that Banks accepted full responsibility for the order that had gone out. Later Banks and his brother had accompanied witness and others to the yards, and had seen the timber that had been rejected and which Lysaght claimed had come from his companies. Banks then agreed with the identification. Counsel: Were you present when portion of the Matai flooring w T as pointed out to him? —-Yes. That was at the Butler Timber Company’s yards. Did you notice any nail-holes in it? —Yes, Accused said it had been used for the flooring of a tent, and that it had been included in the order by mistake.

William George Weigel, a photographer, said that at the request of J. F. Lysaght, of the State Forestry Department, he had photographed certain timber at the Jarrah Timber Company’s yards in Moorbouse Avenue, Christchurch.