SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24070, 15 September 1941, Page 3

SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD

WATERSIDER'S OFFENCE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON", Saturday A waterside worker, Alfred Charles Stockdale (Mr. W. P. Rollings), pleaded guilty before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., to three charges of making false statements to obtain benefits under the Social Security Act. Detective-Sergeant W. McLennan said Stockdale became ill in August, 1939, and applied for the social security sick benefit, amounting to £1 a week for himself and los a week for his wife. He continued to draw the benefits until June, 1941. when it was discovered that his wife had been working since September, 1940, earning £3 a week. When application was made for the benefits Stockdale's wife was not working and the application was then quite in order, said Mr. Rollings. He was suffering from two painful afflictions. He had visited 17 doctors, but they had been unable to effect a permanent cure.

The Magistrate: How much is involved in these charges? Mr. Boilings: Approximately £45. Restitution was offered to the Social Security Department, but it refused. Mr. Luxford said that solely because of Stockdale's physical condition and infirmities the Court would not send him to prison, which would ordinarily be for not less than three months. He would be fined £lO. with costs, 10s, on the first charge, and on the second convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within two years if called on, and to make restitution of £43 16s. _ On the third charge he would be convicted and discharged.