FAILED TO ACCOUNT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 12

FAILED TO ACCOUNT.

CANVASSER'S OFFENCE.

ADMITTED TO PROBATION.

That he did fraudulently omit to account to the Colonial Mutual Assurance Society, Limited, for sunia totalling £43 11/11, received between March 1 and July 22, was the charge admitted by Ronald Stavers Smith, aged 37, in the Police Court before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., to-day. Detective-Sergeant McHugh, after a statement made by accused had been read by Detective Harris, said Smith had been employed as a canvasser by the company from November, 193G, until he left on July 22 last. His average earnings had bewa about £4 per week. The deficiency had been covered by a bond put up by Smith. Smith had never been in trouble before.

It was submitted by Mr. Adams on behalf of Smith that "Smith never had any intetnion of defrauding the company. When he left iu July he thought there was a shortage of £24. However, there was more than sufficient held by the company to meet the shortages. No one had suffered any loss—the company, the clients or the guarantors of Smith.

"There -was a- certain amount of looseness in collecting the money, and when it is remembered that my client had to collect from 300 people every week small sums of money, it can easily be seen that shortages could occur," said Mr. Adams. "In view of Smith's previous good character, I would ask that he be admitted to probation. There is no restitution to be made, as the company have more than sufficient money of his in hand."

The magistrate admitted Smith to probation for one year.