OFFICIAL'S THEFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22389, 8 April 1936, Page 16

OFFICIAL'S THEFTS

STOCK TRANSACTIONS SUMS TOTALLING £395 FIELDS INSPECTOR'S OFFENCES COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] TE KUITI, Tuesday A fields inspector of the Lands Department, Richard Cleverdon, was charged in the Police Court at To Kuiti to-day on 14 counts, with stealing sums of money totalling £395 from the department while he was in its employ. The period over which tho alleged offences took place was from September, 1932, to January, 1936. Accused pleaded guilty. Mr. Mackersey appeared for accused and Detective A. J. White conducted the prosecution. James Paton Lane, accountant of the Lands Department at Auckland, said accused began work at Te Kuiti in 1925 and became sub-receiver of land revenue in 1927. His general duties were the supervision of Government farms and securities. In all cases where accused received moneys as a sub-re-ceiver it was his duty to pay the money into the public account and issue a numbered sub-receiver's receipt. Tho duplicates of receipts issued by him, together with the public account receipt and a copy of the sub-receiver's cash book, were to be forwarded to Auckland at the end of each accounting period. Accused would not be permitted to pay any Government moneys into any account other than the Government account. Sale of Ewes and Lambs Witness said his department did not receive from accused the sum of £37, being the difference between the sale of stock to G. R. Parsons for £74 and the purchase of stock for Nileon's block for £37. This transaction took place in September, 1932. The department had no record of the receipt of £ls for the sale of ewes from Nilson's block in March, 1934. It did uot receive the sum, nor was it accounted for. % . Referring to McCracken's block, witness said his records showed that accused arranged a lease of the grazing to F. W. Waddell. as from February 1, 1935, but the department did not receive £lO in May, 1934, or £2O in November, 1934, for grazing fees paid by Waddell during 1934. The department did not have any knowledge that 30 of the lambs purchased at Otorohanga for N. J. John's block were gold for £3O about March 16, 1935. The only credit he received was £2O for 30 lambs sold. Fees lor Grazing

With reference to Nicholas' block the department did not have any knowledge of the sale of 25 head of cattle from this block in March, 1935. The department did not receive £lB paid by Jepson in May, 1935, for grazing, nor, £24 10s paid by Jepson in January, 1936, for the use of lands. It was contrary to the department's records that cattle from D. R. Sage's property were sold at Te Kuiti on July 26, 1935. The department did not receive £2B 18s, being proceeds of the sale of three bales of wool. Accused did not have any' right to retain proceeds of wool from the two Crown blocks mentioned by Detective "White. In all cases ■where accused had accounted for money to the department accused had strictly complied with the Treasury ;• regulations. In cases where money was not accounted for the department had no documentary or other know iedge of its receipt by accused. Questioned by Mr. Mackersey, witness agreed' that accused's district was ' a very extensive one. His duties would include the reporting and supervision where necessary of all Crown property in that area, overseeing 21 abandoned farms and also the clerical work in connection with reports. 41 Very Efficient Officer " Mr. Mackersey said in ten and a-half months the inward correspondence in accused's office totalled 4675 letters. Witness agreed it was quite possible. He said accused was always regarded as a very efficient officer. To Detective White witness said accused had two assistant field inspectors and one unemployment overseer. The head office would not grant further assistance, although his own personal opinion was that he himself would have given accused further assistance. Detective White produced statements in which accused allegedly admitted receiving the sums mentioned in the charges and not accounting for them. It was alleged that accused admitted the amount of £ll4 banked to his own account on March 27 represented the net proceeds of a sale from a Crown block. To Mr. Mackersey Detective White said accused gave every assistance in clearing up these matters. In some cases, witness doubted if they could have been cleared up without accused's assistance. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence. Bail was granted in one surety of £2OO and two others of £IOO each.