CONTRACTOR’S TIME SHEETS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29366, 19 November 1960, Page 14

CONTRACTOR’S TIME SHEETS

Police “Selected Best Ones”

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 18.

Police investigating alleged malpractices -at Rongotai had searched for false time dockets but had “picked out the most honest ones,” said Charles McDonald Waterson, aged 47, a contractor, in the Supreme Court at Wellington today. Waterson and John Edward Gilmore, aged 59, a former Ministry of Works overseer, faced 32 joint charges of false pretences. It is alleged both falsely represented that machinery—the property of F. and J. Bognuda, Ltd.—was working • for the Ministry of Works.

Waterson said in evidence that while he was at Rongotai Gilmore had told him what entries to make on the dockets. The dockets he had signed had not, “except on a few odd occasions," given the correct information in respect of the machines used or hours worked.

“The police were looking for incorrect ones out of maybe a few hundred, and I can see by this sheet they have picked the most honest ones in relation to me out of the whole lot They have been looking for the wrong ones and have picked out the best ones,” said Waterson. He said the entries he had made on the time dockets had not affected his wages. It had made no difference to him what machines he had to drive, but while “on call" he had got “fed up.” “If the machine was on an end where there was a mess room, nice and comfortable, instead of driving the watercart, or anything else, I would be in that I am in there and on call and comfortable also. On the dockets is “Ministry of Works, nine hours full working time,” he told the Court.

The hearing will continue on Monday.