ALLEGED THEFTS AND FRAUD

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28887, 6 May 1959, Page 7

ALLEGED THEFTS AND FRAUD

Union Secretary Charged

(New Zealand Press Association) WHAKATANE. May 5. Five witnesses, including union officers and bank officials, gave evidence in the Whakatane Magistrate’s Court todav in the case in which Michael Patrick Joseph Moroney, a trade union executive, faces 63 charges of theft, forgery, and false pretences. It is alleged that Moroney stole £1177 while national secretary and Whakatane branch secretary of the Auckland and Otago and Southland Woodnulo. Paper, and Paper Products Industrial Union of Workers. Moroney has elected trial by jury, and the case, which beean yesterday, is exnected to continue at least to Thursday. Witnesses todav claimed that Moronev had withdrawn money collected by branches of the union in fees for transfer to the account of the national union but that he had failed to transfer the money. It was also alleged that he had forged sisnatures in a number of transactions.

At the start cf this morning’s i hearing. Mr K. G. Scott, who is aopearing for Moroney, protested at the presence of two witnesses in the courtroom while the case I was proceeding. Yesterday the Court had been cleared of witnesses. and after Mr Scott's protest. Messrs C. H. Brebner and R Riddell. Justices of the Peace who are hearing the case, declared the evidence of the two witnesses inadmissible. j