THEFTS BY SECRETARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18461, 26 July 1923, Page 5

THEFTS BY SECRETARY

TA U R A N G AH OS L' FUNDS. TWO YEARS' REFORMATIVE. THE STANDARD OF HONESTY A strong -plea : for leniency was advanced for Henry Howard McCarthy (Mr. Osburne-Lilly)', who appeared before . Mr. Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court yesterday for . sentence on a charge of theft, a charge of forgeiy, and six .charges |of failing to accountjy, for * moneys. Mr. Meredith appeared for the Crown. . ■ Counsel for prisoner described him as a man of education, ability, and some i attainments. ; He had been secretary 'of the Tauranga Hospital Board. In 1919 the total hospital ; moneys ■ passing through his Aands amounted to £4291 •. and his - emolument was £81 3s; in 1922 something like £10,000 was handled by him, and j lie was receiving a. salary.of £175.' , 'The remunera- | tion did not enable him to give, hig whole time to the hospital • affairs, and ■he con-1 tinued his business as an auctioneer, ;J which he had conducted during the greater part, of his 13 years' , residence J; in New Zealand. ; Last year he", found :he had 'to neglect his own business. As auctioneer he had to pay. cash for what he received, and give credit for • what ihe - sold, ; arid to meet pressing:; obligations he . took moneys belonging .to the hospital. ; Counsel believed that prisoner had no intention of • depriving the hospital of the money; rather he had looked upon the moneys j as a temporary loan to ,; himself. ;; He had given the auditor every assistance. ■' -wife had sold their home, ' and every penny had been V repaid to the board. ;• Counsel" referred to ': various testimonials as to prisoner's character, in one of which the ' writer : said: As to. the future; I would not ' hesitate 'to plaie'' every ' confidence in (his (prisoner's; 1 integrity." His Honor said he could not overlook the fact . that prisoner ; had bsen placed in a position of responsibility ana had been false to his trust. '-".I- have to consider,*' . continued His Honor, " the : standard of honesty in society. If men ;of your type, placed in a: public position; persist in stealing public money, I .do not know what is to become of the community." Prisoner was sentenced to' reformative treatment for ; a period not exceeding two years. /