THE J/ G. WARD FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIV, Issue 1224, 17 December 1897, Page 3

THE J/ G. WARD FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

PETITION BY SHAREHOLDERS. A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court ofßoe at Invercargili by certain shareholders in the J. G. , Ward Association praying the Court to instruct the liquidator of the Ward Farmrrs' Association to initiate proceedings under the penal clauses of the Companies Act against Mr J. G. Ward and Mr John Fisher. The petition alleges that it has appeared in the course of the winding up of the J. G. Ward Farmers' Association that a certain director of the said Association, to wit the Hon. J. G. Ward, and also a certain manager or officer of the said Association, to wit John Fisher, have been guilty of offences in relation to the said Association for which they are criminally responsible; to vit (a) they made, circulated, published, and concurred in making, circulating, and publishing statements and accounts which they knew to be false in material particulars with intent to induce persons to bef come shareholders, and with intent to deceive or defraud the members, shareholders, and creditors of the said Association ; (b) and they also, with intent to defraud, fajsfied certain books belonging to the taid Association ; (c) and they also, with intent to defraud, made or concurred in making false entries, and omitted or concurred in omitting to enter material particulars in the books of accounts and balancesheets of the said Association ; (d) and they also falsified the books of the said Association, and were privy to the making of false and fraudulent entries in the books of account of the said Association, with intent to deceive. The petitioners pray the Court to direct the official liquidator to institute and conduct prosecutions for the said offences, and that the cos's and expenses thereof and of this application be paid out of the said As?ociation. Mr W. C. M'Gregor has been retained l>y Messrs Hall Bros., solicitors, Invercargill, to act on behalf cf the shareholders who signed the petition.