RELIEF WORK FRAUDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 11

RELIEF WORK FRAUDS.

THREE CHRISTCHURCH MEN. MAGISTRATE'S SCATHING COMMENT. FUTUBE PUNISHMENT SUMMARY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. When three men were charged before him to-day with obtaining money by false pretences in that they made fraudulent declarations when applying for relief work under the Unemployment Board's scheme, Mr. E. D. Mosloy, S.M., caid that if unfair advantage was taken of it the whole system _was in danger of breaking down. ■ , Kennell Lawrence Bennett, musician, was charged' with obtaining from the board £3 2/6 by falsely stating that he was unemployed at a time when he was employed as a part-time worker ■ for wages.' ■;'.."••' .'. John Ernest Brown was charged with obtaining £2 10/ by representing in April that he had not received any income during the past 12 monthsapart from wages* . ■> . Michael Morrissey was charged •with obtaining £7 4/ from /the board- by falsely representing that he was a married man with two dependents. Morlissey and Bennett both pleaded,guilty, but Brown pleaded not guilty. • ■• ': In Brown's, case it was stated he had a glasshouse and had received more than £60 for the sale of tomatoes. Accxised in evidence said he had been out of regular employment for more than. I? months. \ ■,:'-.' The magistrate said that if accused was "up against it" he should have stopped paying money to his wife, fro-n whom'he was living apart, and who had £1000 worth of unencumbered property. "It is clear that he has committed fraud," said Mr. Mosley. "The question is, to what extent?" ■..-.'.." - When Bennett was called his,counsel asked if-accused might be excused froni going into the dock. It -hardly seemed necessary, he said. "It is* all the more necessary," said the magistrate, "as he has committed a false pretence and defrauded. the public;" Sub-Inspector ,O'Hara- stated that,Bennett was*a member of a band and earned 15/ one evening each week. He-had not included that sum in the,form. '■.;' ■ In the' case against Morrisseyy the. subinspector said accused* had stated : that he was-a married man with two; der pendents. He had frankly stated to the he, "thought '"■. he , , was -more, likely to'get work that way. ;' ■ Counsel'said accused had aged parents to support as -well as,a brother. ; ■.? : "His. is the worst; case ■of all," said Mr. Mosley. "It was certainly deliberak", " '' . ■•■■"'■'■ ;• ' - -■ /' "Tliese ftre- the first cases, of. theikind in, Christchiirch," coiitinued the magistrate. '"% .am going, to treat 'them-.as such,';but'.it must bo clearly understood tha-t. ia? future the penalties will ■he severe. No Court will put up with such, frauds 'while -the country is in such' a parlous state and such measures;as. the unemployment scheme mean,so much to the community. In future the punishment will be summary." ■.'■;! : Bennett was convicted and ordered to refund £3 2/6 in 30 days, in default. s«ven days imprisonment. ..; . Brown was convicted and ordered '{to repayi2 10/'in-14 days,:in;defauit seven days'imprisonment. : ,) , >~ , <; Morrissey was ordered; to refund;. £7 4/ inVSQ days, in default ten.days' imprisonment.