COMPLICATED CASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24748, 23 November 1943, Page 4

COMPLICATED CASE

FRAUD ALLEGATIONS COMPANY DIRECTOR'S TRIAL (P.A.) DUNEDTN, Monday The hearing of a number of charges of false pretences and publishing false balance-sheets against. Stanley Reginald Burns, company director, formerly of Dunedin, was commenced to-day before Mr. Justice Kennedy and a special jury of 12. The Crown prosecutor, Mr. F. B. Adams, appeared for the Crown, and accused was represented by Mr. C. S. Thomas, of Christchurch, and Mr. G. V. Murdoch.

Mr. Adams said the case would be a long and complicated one. He asked that the jury be provided with typewritten copies of the indictment and also with copies of the balance-sheets involved in the charges. His Honor agreed to counsel's request. The reading of the full indictment by the registrar occupied about 12 minutes.

Opening the case for the Crown Mr. Adams said that of 12 charges six related to false pretences and the other six to the making and circulating of false balance-sheets of S. R. Burns and Company. The company was incorporated in 1934. The business of the concern was the promoting and financing of companies, accused being chairman of directors and managing director. The company's balance-sheets maintained an "air of prosperity" with one,partial exception. The 1939 balancesheet disclosed that the paid-up capital of the company stood at £37,461, the total amount at stake on the part of the shareholders being £38,827. Real assets were shown to be £42.024. "We have two letters written by accused to a man in Christchurch, the first, dated September 26. 1939, and the other October 30, 1939," Mr. Adams said. "The letters were written two and three months after the company's balance-sheet had been approved by the directors and yet the letters disclosed it was false to the extent of almost £33.000."

Mr. Adams had not completed his address when the Court adjourned until to-morrow. FARM SOCIETY'S ASSETS PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL (0.C.) DARGAVILLE, Monday A decision to transfer the assets of the Northern Wairoa Experimental and Demonstration Farm Society to the Education Department, provided the department pays a sum equivalent to the amount of the society's liabilities and expenses of the transfer, was made at a meeting of members of the society. It was also stipulated that the property must be used for an agricultural school for Northland.

HOSPITAL BUSES

AN EXTENSION PROPOSED Proposals that the bus route serving the Auckland Hospital and portion of Epsom be extended to the Green Lane Hospital and another hospital in the locality are to be referred to the Metropolitan Transport Licensing; Authority for its favourable consideration, according to a decision of the Auckland Hospital Board last night. The decision was taken on receipt of a report from the acting-medical superintendent, Dr. C. B. Gilberd, who not only emphasised the need for better communication between Green Lane Hospital and the city, but also the desirability of a direct transport link between Green Lane and Auckland Hospital. He suggested that the present route be extended from Brightside Road along Gillies Avenue, The Drive and Alba Road to Green Lane Road.