RELIEF FRAUDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 251, 22 October 1937, Page 3

RELIEF FRAUDS.

NINE OFFENDERS.

MAY WARNING IGNORED.

SINGLE MAN SENT TO GAOL.

Xine offenders were charged on summons before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court to-day, with relief frauds, eight of whom were prosecuted under the Employment Promotion Act for making false statements to obtain benefit under that Act. The other was charged under the Justices of the Peace Act.

The last named was Jack Thompson, and lie pleaded guilty to six charges— two of false pretences, declaring a false name, falsely declaring he was out of Xew Zealand at the commencement of the Employment Promotion Act, falsely declaring the di\te of his return to Xew Zealand and the date of becoming a resident in Xew Zealand.

Mr. \V. A. Black, who prosecuted, said five of the false declarations had been made after the magistrate's warning in May. ■ Thompson was a single man receiving £1 per week on sustenance, while he also did casual work.

Thompson told the magistrate that he met with an accident some time ago, but he never received any compensation. He was willing to repay the money lie had wrongfully obtained. "Von made these false declarations deliberately. - ' said the magistrate, "while you also gave a false name. You have j»ot money under false pretences. If it had l>een only one incident it might not have been so bad, but of the 1.3 false declarations you made voti obtained £8 odd as a result of 11 of tlieni."

'J hompson was sentenced to one month's imprisonment on each of two charges of false pretences, the terms to be served concurrently, and he was fined £lo and costs on one of the charges of making a false declaration, being convicted and discharged on the other counts.

Fines Imposed. On charge* of making false statements for the purpose of obtaining benefit under tlie Employment Promotion Act tlie following fines were imposed, ".lie amounts beinpr slightly in excess of the sum wrongfully obtained; David Main Long, £.) 10/; Xoel James Aldred, £7 10/; .Joseph Thomas Preston, £8 10/ ; I.eslie Harold Banks. £lit : .John Duckworth. £11 10/ ; Krnest Patrick Anthony Walsh. £12 10/ : (ieorge Charles Creen, £!•!; and Richard Edwards, £2<i 10/.