N.Z. Naval Officer Dismissed From Ship

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1948, Page 10

N.Z. Naval Officer Dismissed From Ship

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, October 13. A naval officer was dismissed his ship, and reprimanded, following a court-martial at. the Devonport Naval Base. The accused was Stanley Charles Keeley, acting-warrant communications officer, of H.M.N.Z.S. Tamaki. He pleaded guilty to two charges of negligently performing his duty, by failing to turn over sums of £7 and £6, belonging to the ship s dance and football funds when his appointment at Waiouru was terminated. ’ The accused also admitted a further charge of acting to the prejudice of good order -and naval discipline, by borrowing £5 from the master-at-arms. , . No evidence was offered by the prosecution on two alternative counts of fraudulent conversion of sums of the ship’s money that were involved. The accused was acquitted on these charges. Mr Pleasants, for the accused, said he had served in the Navy for nearly 20 years, rising from the rating of seaman boy, to his present warrant rank, with an unblemished record. The amounts were refunded before the charges were investigated, and it seemed a case where every possible leniency could be extended. For some time the accused’s financial circumstances had been difficult.