UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 21721, 16 May 1934, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

" CANNOT PLAY FAST AND LOOSE WITH THE COURT " MAGISTRATE REITERATES HIS CRITICISM [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. “ The Unemployment Board cannot play fast and loose with the court by, its actions. It has lost what restitution the court might have ordered,” stated the Magistrate (Mr Lawry) this morning, when he reiterated the criticism ho made on April 18 of the board’s action in endeavouring to obtain restitution above the amount ordered fay the court in a case where a man was charged with obtaining money from the board by means of a false statement. . The case had been adjourned so that the Labour Department officer could • communicate with the hoard regarding the magistrate’s comment. To-day the department's official said that he had received telegraphic instructions to make an application to have the case withdrawn.

The Magistrate said lie could not permit the case to he withdrawn because the offence had been proved.- “ The hoard will have to understand that it cannot drag men before the court and then withdraw when things do not go as it wishes. In the past the board has shown a disposition to impose greater penalties than the court has thought fit, and so that it won’t be able to treat this as a case which the court has not dealt with, I will convict and discharge the man. If it had not been for the trouble that arose before I would have ordered this man to pay £ls, but the board has lost that by its attitude.”^ An application for withdrawal _ in a second case was similarly dealt with.