EXTRA EDITION

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1922, Page 8

EXTRA EDITION

ARBUCKLE CASE

PRELIMINARY HEARING

CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT

EX-LABOUR OFFICIAL ON TRIAL.

A prominent figure in local Labour circles, and until recently secretary of the New Zealand Miners' Federation, John Arbuckle, stood his preliminary trial at tho Magistrate's Court this afternoon on a charge of having embezzled £459 3s 4d,

The charge against Arbuckle was: " That between 14th March, 1921, aniJ 27th August, 1921, he did commit theft of the sum of £459 3s 4d, being moneys of Peter O'Rourke and others, known as the New Zealand Coal, Gold, Shalo, Quarry, and Tunnel Workers' Federation." >

The prosecution was a private one. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., was on the Bench, Mr. W. Perry appeared for the Miners' Federation, and Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell for the accused.

The accused was given a seat in the body of the Court. Constable R. Anderson said he knew Arbuckle. On 2nd February last, at the Central Police Court, 'Sydney, he executed a warrant for the arrest of the accused, and arrived here on 6th Feb-, ruary.

FEDERATION SECRETARY'S EVIDENCE.

Peter O'Rourke, secretary and treasurer of the Miners' Federation, identified the accused as John Arbuckle. Tho accused was secretary-treasurer of the federation from Ist July, 1921, to 28th August, 1921. On 24th August, 1921, witness received a telegram from Arbuckle to the effect that he had been appointed secretary of the federation, and he took over hie duties on. the 29th August. On that day he saw the accused in Willis-stree.t, and they went along to the office of the federation. Witness asked the accused ho%v things were, and the reply was to the effect that everything was all right. No money was handed over to witness, as all the money had been banked on 27th August, according to a siip produced by the accused. . The federation consisted of an unlimited number of men employed in the mining industry. He produced a list of unions affiliated with the federa tion at the present time

THE UNION LEVIES

All the unions on tho list had been affiliated for more than twelve months. The federation received moneys from these unions under various headings, snch as ordinary dues, equivalent to 3jd per member per week, Australian dues amounting to £d per member per week, a levy of Is per quarter as delegates' fund, and 6d a member per annum for affiliation to the Alliance of Labour. Other levies, decided on from time to time, were also paid, sometimes for men on strike or locked out. There was also a levy of 7s 6d per member for the purpose of buying a house for the secretary of the federation. A levy for the purpose of assisting miners at Broken HilL had been struck by the Australian Federation and endorsed by the New Zealand body. This was for 2£ per cent, of the total earnings of the miners. Some of the unions made their payments fortnightly and some monthly. All these amounts were supposed to have been paid into the To Aro branch of the Bank of New Zealand, where' the federa-' tion had its sole account.

Witness said he had .been president of the federation up till 6th' July. The financial year closed on 31st May each year, and there was an annual audit of the books at that time. Witness produced the books of the association—a ledger, a journal, a bank pay-in book, a cheque book, and a carbon receipt, book. These books were in the office when witness took over. The accused went to Sydney on 29th August. ' ' There were no entries in the bankbook from 24th December, 1920, -until 27th August, 1921, said witness.. He could find no other records of payments in the office.

CHECKING THE ACCOUNTS.

When he . met ■ Arbuckle, 1 on 29fch August, the accused said.he had. taken the accounts along to Mr. John Glover, at the ■Maoriland Worker office, to check them, and see if they were all Tight. A little later Glover came into the office, but was without any books. Arbuckle then said that ■he had not kept any books, but had merely kept a statement of receipts and expenditure, arid petty cash. Mr. G-lover drew accused's attention to a discrepancy of some £50, and Arbuckle replied that "some, of the delegates must have put it np on him for £50." Witness told the accused he did not think this was possible. An '■ inspection of the vouchers was made, but no record of tho money could be found. ArbuckTe then said :""I must have gone back on myself for £50, and I will ha.ve to pay it." He then said he had sent all his money to Australia^

"BACK IN THREE WEEKS."

Arbuckle added that he would be back from Australia in three weeks, and would make the money good. Arbuckle did not come back in that time, and there was no word from him, < said witness. Subsequently, witness wrote to various unions to the effect that contributions had not been paid. Later, he got receipts back from these unions. Witness produced a receipt from the Denniston Union for the sum of £33 12s, and the office receipt book showed the amount as £26 2s—a difference of £7 10s. V Other receipts were produced. They showed differences, compared with the office books, of £69 19s Bd, £13, £10, and so on.

(Proceeding.)