EXAMINATION FRAUD.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 66, 18 March 1924, Page 8

EXAMINATION FRAUD.

An appeal on the ground of law was made in the cases of Webb and M'Laughlin, found guilty of forgery in connection with an' examination for a teacher's certificate. Mr. Callan appeared lor prisoners, and Mr. A. Pair for the Crown. This was the well-known South Island case in which Webb had entered to sit for the teacher's "D" certificate, one of his subjects being practical hygiene. Webb arranged with M'Laughlin to sit in his (Webb's) place, and M'Laughlin did so, going through the section of the (examination, and signing Webb's name on the papers and another slip. The jury found the arrangement was made, and that the papers and slip were false documents. The appeal was on the ground that Mr. Justice Sim was wrong in "directing the jury that the papers and slips were false documents. Mr. Callan submitted that the papers could not be held to be forgeries, they being signed with AVebb's consent. He submitted in the course of lengthy argument that, though it was reprehensible to act as Webb and M'Laughlin had done, there was nothing in New Zealand law that made their actions criminal. Mr. Callan suggested- that the criminal law should not be strained to cover a case like this, which it really did not cover, and'that if it was thought necessary there should be some statutory provision punishing this sort of offence. Decision was "reserved.