FALSE STATEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 16

FALSE STATEMENTS

Frauds On Sustenance Funds

“SYSTEM CALLS FOR GOOD FAITH” Dominion Special Service. , Wanganui, April 4. Four charges of making false etate--1 ments for the purpose ot obtaining sustenance relief were preferred against John Patrick Behin when he appeared before Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court. Wanganui, to-day. Behin was fined £6, with costs, on each of three charges, jand £4, with costs, on the fourth charge, which concerned an offence committed at Wellington. Detective-Sergeant J. K. Robertson said three of the charges concerned offences at Christchurch in 1936 and the fourth an offence committed at Wellington in the following year. Behin sold out a fish business and went selling jewellery, but did not notify his earnings. He was married, with no family, and the total amount involved was £22,13/9. Behin explained that he was in debt at the time and had been endeavouring to liquidate these arrears. “It has been repeatedly pointed out that this sustenance system calls for the utmost good faith on the part of those who benefit by it,” said the magistrate. “The sustenance system is open to abuse. A man must not be allowed to profit by misstatements made in order to obtain relief.”