Travel agent fined $600

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33061, 31 October 1972, Page 3

Travel agent fined $600

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, October 30.

Brian Walter Herbert Jefford, aged 50, a company director, was today fined §6OO on six counts of false pretences, relating to his company, World Wide Travel Bonds, Ltd.

Mr Justice Mahon said the foundation of the offences was in foolish rather than criminal behaviour. Jefford had a good record, and it w’as clear that though money found its way into his own hands for his personal use, Jefford’s liability arose from his failure to recognise that in the last month of the company’s life he should have declined to receive all money tendered to him. The charges arose after money was received by Jefford and his company in April and May this year for tickets for charter flights. When he did not supply them a number of people complained to the police, and the charges were laid.

His Honour said there had been many such payments over earlier periods, and the company appeared to have got into difficulty early this year. He noted that Jefford borrowed thousands of dollars on his own personal security and paid this money into the company to keep it going. Counsel, Mr P. T. Finnigan, said this was a clear example of a businessman getting into financial difficulties, and trying to trade his way out of them. Jefford did not set out deliberately to defraud people. Jefford was fined §lOO on each of the six charges, and admitted to probation for two years.