CLUB’S ART UNION

Grey River Argus, 11 September 1940, Page 3

CLUB’S ART UNION

Organiser in Court £215 UNACCOUNTED FOR. AUCKLAND, September 9. The organiser of an art union for the Milford Girls’ Life-saving Club, Roland Oscar Reeves, motor driver and salesman (Mr. Aekins), who appeared before justices in the Police Court, was charged with fraudulently omitting to account for or pay £215 13s lOd to the club, having received the money on terms which required him to do so, thereby committing theft. Auriole Gwladys Merson, secretary of the Milford Girls’ Life-saving Club, said accused organised an art union for the club, he being paid 50 per cent, of all the money he collected. A later agreement was made that, if he bought the club a net profit of £2OO, he would receive 60 per cent, on art union tickets and 55 per cent, on donations which he collected.

A total of 20,000 art union tickets were printed, of which 15,210 were sold by accused, the value being £3BO ss. Two hundred donation books were also printed, through which accused collected £305 5s 3d. The total shortage in his payments to the club was £215 13s lOid,

A statement by accused was produced by Detective Slater, in which he said he was appointed organiser of the art union last April by Miss Merson. Details of his commission were finally fixed at 60 per cent, of tickets sold, and 55 per cent, of donations. In May, he was granted a car allowance of £45 for country work. Several men working for him were paid 45 per cent, on donations and 50 per cent, on tickets, deducting the amounts themselves and paying the balance to him.

Accused said he examined schedules which showed a total deficiency of £215 13s lOd. These were correct, and if they had been handed in to the club, he would have been entitled to extra commissions amounting to floo 7s 9d. Accused added that he had novin--1 ended to defraud the club, but sickness and other expenses had caused him to use the money. He said that if given a chance he was prepared to pay the full amount owing by instalments.

Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court lor sentence, bail being fixed at £lOO. A condition was that accused should report daily to the police.