CHARITY FRAUD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 December 1928, Page 6

CHARITY FRAUD.

CONiDU.OT or BUFFET. . FOR THE UNEMPLOYED. MELBOURNE, Oct. 26 Scathing comments on the operation of a buffet, established during the winter months, 't,o provide meals at a nominal charge to the unemployed, aie made in a report which Mr T Forristal, an officer of the ;State Treasury, has made to the State Parliament. The buffet whs established in May last by Mr Charles Barrett, of GUenhuntlv Road, Elwood, and public assistance was received. “There is no doubt,” Mr Pomstal stated, ‘that many of those connected with ;t,he buffet were unscrupulous and disreputable citizens, who, under the <r U ise of .charity, acquired money from the public and devoted it to their own use.” The report goes on to say that owing to the condition of the accounts it wa 3 impossible to prepare a balancesheet. There was definite evidence, however, of a cash deficiency of £278 ]Bs '2d, but the records 'were in such a slate of chaos that it was doubtful whether any proceedings instituted against those responsible, would result in a conviction. “The whole of the transactions reek with fraud and dishonesty,” Mr Forristal added. “A large amount of money subscribed by a igenerous public for a charitable purpose has been wilfully misappropriated, and a large portion of the proceeds has been -uselessly squandered.”