Four clerks charged

Press, 20 November 1982, Page 4

Four clerks charged

PA £■ Wellington Indiscriminate use of stamps bearing a person’s signature (facsimile signature stamps) was widespread at the District Court in Wellington, the court’s, senior deputy registrar has said. Mr Lindsay Auger, when being cross-examined by counsel, Mr D. S. G. Deacon, during a depositions hearing, was asked: “What instructions, if any, are given regarding the use off the stamps?” “They should never be used by anybody other than the holder of the stamp,” Mr Auger said.

Four clerks in the District Court in Wellington have been charged that on diverse dates between and inclusive, of June 22, 1981, and August ' 7, 1982, they conspired to prevent or defeat the course of justice by interferring with proper court procedures in relation to minor offence notices filed by the Ministry of Transport in respect of each other and other persons. The defendants are Linda Anne McQuade, aged 24 (represented by Mr J. W. Gendall), David John Thompson, aged 26 (Mr Tim Olphert), Michael Peter Waluszewski, aged 25 (Mr Deacon), and

Kevin Joseph McGlinchey, aged 24 (Mr B. J. O’Donnell). “The sheer volume of documents that , had to be processed made the work a sheer physical impossibility for one person hence the indiscriminate use of the stamps?” Mr Deacon suggested. “I cannot accept that, as a reason. The holder of a facsimile stamp should always have control of that stamp, and use it himself,” said Mr Auger. The Crown prosecutor was Mr J. R. A. Fardell. The hearing was before Judge Pain.