A BACHELOR DEGREE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 146, 17 December 1924, Page 6

A BACHELOR DEGREE

FORGERY ALLEGED

ENGINEER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

. An unusual prosecution was heard in the Magistrate's Court .to-day, before Mr. E. Page, S.M., when, an engineer, 31 years of age, named Arnold Edward Rhodes, was charged with forging a certificate purporting to confer upon himself the degree of Bachelor of Engineering.

Senior Detective Cameron prosecuted. • Evidence wa3 given by Phillip, Norman Rundle that accused had been in the employ of the Vacuum Oil Proprietary from June, 1923, to September, 1924, as a lubricating engineer. Shortly after joining, accused said he was a graduate of engineering of Canterbury- College, haying graduated about 1911.' In July last witness said he visited Professor Steele, professor of' engineering at Canterbury College, and Professor Steele stated that Rhodes was not a graduate of Canterbury College, and that, his. name was not on the register. Witness told that to accused, and suggested that if his name had been omitted he^ had better -have the matter put right. Accused replied that it must have been a mistake, and that he would have the matter attended to.- Accused assured witness that there was a certificate which, however, he could not produce just at that, moment. Accused said he had a certificate signed by Stout and Norris. Witness insisted on the production of a certificate, which was done. Mr. Norris later examined . the certificate, and stated that it had never Been issued from the New Zealand University. Before he .produced the certificate accused told witness that he had "not attended the.recognised. Canterbury College of Engineering, but another school of engineering in Montreal street. The lecturers included Professors Scott and Thomas. Witness said he did not know whether there was another school of engineering in Ghristchurch in 1911 other than the University.

■ Edwin Thomas Norris, Registrar of the New Zealand University, said in fceptember last accused'and Rundle;called at-his office, and he examined the certificate (produced). He stated that it was not a-University diploma, and not a^certificate entitling Rhodes to'-tih'e degree of Bachelor of Engineering.and Bachelor of -Science -in Engineering. Ihe.certificate was purported to': be signed by H. Hargraves, secretary,Robert :G. . Stout,', president, on-llfith November, 19U. Witness skid in that year the certificates were signed by B lector, Registrar, and Sir Robert Stout Chancellor.. ,No body other than the University of New Zealand could confer., the degree--of Bachelor of Engmeerinc; .erf anyone in New Zealand Accuseds name was.not.on the register of- engineers. • .. r..

detective Walsh gave evidence of a statement nr winch-accused said he had taker^-a course of- two arid'a''half years' duration at a school m Christchurch. On the completion of the course-he-eat tor an examination and passed, and was rader the impression -that ■he could use the degree B.E. after his name Accused, who was represented by Mr. P. Jackson, pleaded not gr,ilty and was committed to--the Supron^'Court Yol trial. Bail^vasjenewedm the.sum of