LABOURER'S LAPSE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 135, 10 June 1942, Page 6

LABOURER'S LAPSE

STOLE UNION FUNDS

PLACED ON PROBATION

Domestic unhappiness was advanced as trie cause of thefts by Gerald Frank Gilbert Smith, aged 56, labourer, who appeared before Mr. J. Morling. S.M., in the Police Court this morning and pleaded guilty to three charges of theft of money of a total sum of £88 2/.

Detective-Sergeant J. Trethewey said Smith was employed at the Southdown freezing works, and was appointed delegate to the Freezing Workers' Union. He was issued with books of membership tickets valued at £1 each, and was entitled to receive 10 per cent of all money accounted for. Early this year it was ascertained that he had not accounted for certain sums, and investigation showed that over a period of two years he had systematically practised dishonesty. When seen by the police he at once admitted the offence, and said that most of the money had been spent on his family and some of it on liquor. On behalf of Smith, Mr. K. C. Aekins. said that the accused was separated from his -wife. During the last Ave years he had had considerable demands on his earnings. When he told his fellow workers of his position they collected £25 towards restitution. Smith was at present working on making army huts and would endeavour to make good the deficiency. The magistrate said there were some bad features about the offences. Probably unhappiness in domestic life contributed to the trouble, although it was quite possible this had been brought about by his own conduct. He placed Smith on probation for a period of two years and ordered that he make full restitution at the rate of 10/ a week and take out; a prohibition order.