THEFT OF UNION FUNDS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 17 March 1939, Page 20

THEFT OF UNION FUNDS

FORMER SECRETARY’S

OFFENCE

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE

(FBCSS - ASSOCIATION TELNGBAM.) AUCKLAND. March 16. Admitting that between May 24 and December 1 last year, while holding the position of secretary-treasurer of the. Auckland Metal Workers’ Assistants’ Union he had stolen sums of money totalling £l3l, the property of the union, Stanley Horace James, aged 47, a labourer, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence in the Magistrate’s Court. Thomas James Stewart, the present secretary of the Auckland Metal Workers’ Assistants’ Union, said accused was secretary of the union before witness took the position. When witness took over he found numerous instances where money received by accused from members had not been accounted for. In many cases accused had given temporary receipts, and witness had not found any instance of accused receiving money from a member and not giving a receipt. Edward Stanley, a former member of the union, said that as secretary and treasurer accused had complete control of the union’s income while he held office. Accused received £5 a week. . When accused took the position of secretary-treasurer the union had a bank credit balance of £lB4 6s lOd. Accused was responsible for the collection of union fees, and no money had been banked by him between May 24 and September 3 of last year. Witness said that at a general meeting on November 8 it was decided that an audit of the books should be made, and on December 1, when witness asked if an audit had been made, accused replied; “No. I won't have an audit on an unflnanciai member’s motion.”

The executive that day decided to suspend accused from office. Later, when an audit had been made, it was decided to place the matter in the hands of the police. Arthur Percy Postlewaite, an auditor, said he had made an audit of the union’s books covering the period when accused was secretarytreasurer. The books had not been properly kept, and witness found a total deficiency of £l3l. Accused told witness that he had been worrying over personal affairs, and during that time the affairs of the union had got into a muddle.