WAGES ON RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 150, 21 March 1933, Page 8

WAGES ON RELIEF

Misrepresentation Charge CASE AT PALMERSTON Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North. March 20. A charge of obtaining relief work by misrepresentation was preferred against Walter George Hart in the Police Court this morning before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M. The Inspector of Labour. Mr. Cadwallader, said defendant had registered as unemployed and was given relief work, receiving £B6/17/6 as relief wages. During this time, it was alleged, he had £6OO on fixed deposit, and other assets. Furthermore, it was stated that defendant had been given work on the basis of a married man when he had been a widower for most of the time. Counsel for defendant said £3OO of the £6OO belonged to'defendant’s wife, and on her death had been paid to a daughter. Defendant had been obliged to meet heavy medical expenses for his wife, and now had no money to repay what he had received in relief. He now had no means, and could not obtain relief work. Mr. J. L. Stout said it seemed to him that a deliberate fraud had been committed. and defendant was not entitled to any consideration. The question was whether defendant should be sentenced to a term of imprisonment or be ordered to repay what he had received in relief. The case was stood down to Wednesday.