CHARGE OF THEFT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17983, 29 January 1924, Page 3

CHARGE OF THEFT.

B. D. MARTIN IN COURT, At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Buss ell Dytes Martin, 43 years of 3g e > appeared before Mr H. Y. 'Widdowsoii, S.M., charged that he did steal £164 Oa Id, £76 8s lid, and £4O lis 3d on June 30th, 1922, December 31st, 1922, and June 30th, 1923, respectively, the property of the Canterbury Bakers, Pastry Cooks, Biscuit and Confectionery Employees' Industrial Union of Workers, Christchureh. Chief-Detective A. Cameron, who appeared for the police, asked that the accused be remanded to appear on Friday next, but said he did not know if the police would then be prepared to go on with the case. Mr W. J. Hunter, who represented the accused, said they were anxious to get on with the case. In making an application for bail, counsel stated that the Union's funds were entirely intact, and were not, as stated by one newspaper, showing a deficiency. Chief-Detective Cameron said that there were another four Unions, the affaire of which had yet to be gone into, and there was likely to be several other charges made before the case could be gone on with. Mr Hunter said that, with regard to the Bakers' Union, the Union was indebted to the accused rather than the accused to the Union. Martin was remanded to appear on Friday next. Bail was fixed on the first charge at self in £2OO and two sureties of £IOO each, and on each of the other charges accused was released on Ms own recognisance of £SO.

A lengthy meeting of the Bakers and Pastrycooks' Union was held on Saturday night to consider the report of the special committee set up to deal with the matter of the secretaryship. The question of a successor to Mr B. D. Martin was not definitely decided, and in the meantime Mr B. A. Brooks will continue as acting-secretary.