DISHONEST SECRETARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18551, 8 November 1923, Page 11

DISHONEST SECRETARY.

PATRIOTIC FUNDS STOLEN.

THREE YEARS' REFORMATIVE

Twenty-eight charges of theft and five of forgery had been admitted by Norman Gibbs, aged 43, formerly secretary of the Thames Harbour Board, who appeared before Mr. Justice Herdman at the Supreme Court yesterday for sentence. Gibbs had been committed from Thames, where he had admitted misappropriation of funds of the Thames Patriotic League, of which he had been secretary for the last threw years. Somewhat unusual features were presented by the story of prisoner's life, as outlined by his counsel, Mr. Garland. The latter said that until this disastrous lapse, which commenced three 1 years ago. Gibbs had never been before a Court on a criminal charge, 1 and had borne a most exemplary character. He was educated at Wellington, and joining the staff of a company as office boy, rose to be company secretary, when, unfortunately for him, the company went into liquidation. He carried out the liquidation satisfactorily. During his service with the company he had saved £1000, all of which he then put into a farm, but owing to a drought he lost all.

Accused came to Auckland with £3 in his possession, and though a qualified accountant was out of work for three months, earning only 8s in tint period. Subsequently he obtained temporary employment with the Auckland Harbour Board for six months, at £2 10s a weeK, and was then retained by the board till 1919, when members of the regular staff returned from the front. During that time he got hopelessly into debt, and was again out of work. Finally through the Harbour Board he obtained the position of secretary to the Thames Harbour Board at £250 a year, and it might be thought that on that salary he could have paid his debts, but, unfortunately, the money went in other directions. . ~-..,.'.■'.

Evidence was called as to prisoner's character and ability. His Honor said it was always with great regret that the Court had* to deal with men whose past character had been good, but such cases were becoming too common. The total amount appropriated by prisoner was about £200, and a great deal of it was patriotic money. •It was impossible for him, continued the judge, notwithstanding the facts in prisoner's favour, to give him his liberty. Gibba was sentenced to a "term of reformative treatment not ?xceeding three years, His Honor remarking that if prisoner behaved himself the Prisons Board would probably grant him his liberty long before the term expired, i