GOODS HOT RETURNED

Evening Star, Issue 23352, 23 August 1939, Page 10

GOODS HOT RETURNED

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CHARGE AGAINST CARPENTER [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 23. “ If the statements made by counsel are correct, it is time things in the Public Works Department were straightened up,” said Mr Stout, S.M., after Mr C. J. O’Regan, who appeared for William Walter Gordon (28), had described bow “ smalls ” left over from jobs were frequently not returned to the supply stores. Gordon, a carpenter, pleaded guilty to the theft at Forded, in March, of about 1,900 square feet of building paper valued at £3 11s 3d. He was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment with hard labour.

The police stated that the paper was le*ft over from paper given to the accused to line single and married men’s quarters. He sold 1,500 ft at Petone for £2. AVlien inquiries were made it was found that 100 ft had been used. Accused, it was stated, had been before the Supreme Court on May 16 for the theft of union funds, and it was while he was out on bail that this particular offence occurred.

Mr O’Regan said the facts as outlined required some amplification. The accused genuinely believed that ho had some colour of right for taking paper in a department such as the Public Works. It inevitably, happened that the exact quantities 'of materials for jobs were not issued and the position had arisen that “ smalls ” were not alwaj's returned. _ _ The Magistrate: It seems that it is time things were straightened up considering the wages these men are getting. Mr O’Regan said he understood that frequently small pieces of material were taken away by the men. “ Because other people are dishonest does it mean that your client is entitled to be dishonest? ” asked the Magistrate,