COMPANY’S OFFENCES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29724, 18 January 1962, Page 16

COMPANY’S OFFENCES

“Fines Wasting Court’s Time” (N.Z. Pres, AMOCKUUm) TAURANGA, Jan. 17. Mr G. J. Donne, S.M., mid in She Magjtetoaie'a Court at Tteunmea today Shat he was virtually weetang his tame imposing fines a company on charges which, if preferred against a person, could have resulted in 12 months’ imprißonmeniL "I am imposing fines which are probably not going to be paid, and the Commissioner of Mand Revenue is seeking money which he probably wiH not gain,” the Magistrate said. The Court was hearing 11 charges brought on behalf of She commissioner against A. R. Evans. Dtd., a Quarrying company, at Te Puke. The company pleaded guilty on all counts. The changes involved five small amounts claimed under She old Social Security regulations and six larger amounts through failure to account for income tax deduction payments. The «x main charges related to sums totalling £299 Ifle 2d. Mr J. W. Bain, tor the Commissioner, said these were not the only defaults of the company, which was being sued by the commissioner tor “a sum in excess of £2000” tor payments not made. The company was now in financial difficulrtiies and the Intend Revenue Department stood to loose the whole of the amount, Mir Bain said. The charge was very close to one of theft or embezzlement as it involved funds which were almost trust in nature. Mr F. H. WUloughby, tor the company, said a statutory meeting was held at the end of December and it had been found that something like £20,000 of unsecured creditors were in a precarious position. The Magistrate described the position as ’’farcical.” If the charges were preferred against a person, they could result in 12 months’ imprisonment. “The company gets away scot-free," he said. He imposed fines of £l5 on each of the six major charges and £5 on each of the other five.