CARPENTER'S THEFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 198, 23 August 1939, Page 12

CARPENTER'S THEFT.

MATERIAL NOT USED.

PUBLIC WORKS PROPERTY.

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE.

(By Tifiegrapli.—Press Association.)

W ELLINGTON, this day

"If the statements made by counsel are correct it is time things in the Public Works Department were straightened up,"' said Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M.. after Mr. C'. J. O'Regan, who appeared for \\ illialn Walter Gordon, bad described how smalls' left over from jobs were frequently not returned to the supplv stoics. Gordon, aged 28, a carpenter pleaded guilty to the theft at Fordell in March of about 1900 square feet of building paper valued at £3 11/3- and was sentenced to a month's hard labour.

The police stated that the paper was left over from paper given accused to line the single and married men's quarters. He sold 1500 ft at Pet one for £2. \\ hen inquiries were made it was found that 100 ft had been used. Accused was stated to have been before the Supreme Court on May 10 for the theft of union funds, and it was while he was out on bail that this particular offence occurred Mr. O'Regan said the facts as outlined required some amplification. Accused genuinely believed he had some colour of right for taking the paper. In a department such as the Public Works it inevitably happened that exact quantities of material for jobs were not issued, and the position had arisen that smalls were not always returned. Ihe Magistrate: It seems it is tim° things were straightened up, considering 1 wa =? s these men are getting. ° Mr. O'Regan said he understood that frequently small pieces of material were taken away by the men. "Because other people are dishonest does it mean your client is entitled to be dishonest c ' asked the magistrate.