Union Secretary Guilty Of Theft

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31462, 31 August 1967, Page 22

Union Secretary Guilty Of Theft

(N.Z. Press Association) NAPIER, August 30. The former secretary of . the Napier branch of the New Zealand Harbour Boards’ Employees* Industrial Union of Workers, Douglas Ernest Mill; er, aged 54, a fitter, had failed to account for various sums of union money totalling $614 and thereby committed theft, the Napier Magistrate’s Court was told today. Miller, who pleaded guilty, was convicted and remanded on bail until September 8. A probation report will be prepared. The Magistrate allowed Miller bail of $4OO in his own recognisance and ordered him to report to the police daily. Detective Sergeant J. H. Beaton said that Miller was appointed president of the branch in April, 1965, and became secretary in November of that year. His duties involved the collection of union fees and levies and banking them in Napier. In May, 1967, a firm of Napier public accountants conducted an audit of the branch’s books and found a deficit of $lOl. Miller made good this amount.

However, an inquiry was made by the union’s national executive and in June of this year the national president and secretary came to Napier. They took possession of the books and found a shortage. Offer To Repay

Miller said that he would make good the shortage but had not done so within three days and was suspended from office. Further inquiries showed that he had failed to account for a total of $614, mostly in levies and fees.

Last Thursday the police interviewed Miller. He did not dispute the audit findings, was at a loss to explain what had happened to the money, and said he had nothing to show for it