Warning to Sustenance Applicants

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 4

Warning to Sustenance Applicants

MUST DISCLOSE TRUE FINANCIAL POSITION

Unusual circumstances surrounded a case brought by the Labour Department in the Palmerston North Alagistrate’s Court yesterday against Win. John O ’Alera who was chai'ged with misleading officials when applying for sustenance relief.

According to Mr L. W. Cozens, who appeared for the department, when defendant applied for sustenance in July, 1934, his wife had £6OO in tho Post Office Savings Bank. The position was that if a man and his wife had £SOO or more in the bank, the man could not get sustenance. However, the £6OO in the bank in Airs O’Alera’s name had not been disclosed and defendant had drawn relief since July, 1934, at a married man’s rate. Air Cozens said it had been revealed that £SOO of the £6OO had been a gift from Mrs O’Mcra’s mother to discharge a mortgage on a property and had the mortgage been paid off, defendant would have qualified for a measure of sustenance relief. The case was' not one for a heavy penalty but the defendant had been brought before the Court more to show sustenance applicants that they must disclose their true financial positions. Mr T. F. Belling, who appeared for defendant, said Airs O ’Mera had been given the £SOO to pay off a mortage but as it was not quite due, the mortgagee had refused to take the money, the reason being that he would only get 3 per cent, on the cash whereas he was securing 5 per cent while the mortgage was running.

His worship imposed a nominal penalty of £1 with 10s costs, as a warning.