SERIOUS ALLEGATION

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11960, 15 October 1924, Page 7

SERIOUS ALLEGATION

STATEMENT IN COURT POLICE ACCUSED OF BEING BRIBED. INFORMATION OVER TELEPHONE Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, October 14. Bert William Munns, private inquiry agent, of 319, Hereford street, who is well known as a witness in connection with divorce proceedings in Christchurch, made the startling allegation in tho Magistrate’s Court to-day that certain information had come to him that the Land Agents’ Association had bribed the head of the police in Christchurch, and that the sum of £2OO was offered. Munns applied for a license to carry on business as a land agent, and undertook to enter into a fidelity bond of £SOO as. required under the Land Agents’ Registration Act?. Hearing was adjourned after Munns had refused to go into the witness box. OBJECTION TO APPLICATION. An objection to tho granting of the application was lodged bv Erie Tasle, as secretary of the Canterbury Land and Estate Agents' Association, on the grounds that the character and financial position of the applicant are not Buch that ho li9, having regard to the interests of the public, a fit and proper person to carry on business as a land agent. Mr Thomas appeared, on behalf of the Land Agents’ Association, and Munns was not represented by counsel. Mr Widdowson, S.M., was on the Bench. When the case was called on, Munns said he desired to ask for an adjournment for a month. Why didn’t you ask for that yesterday? asked the magistrate. Munns: Certain information has come to me over the telephone that the Land Agents’ Association. has bribed the head of the police in Christchurch, and that the Bum of £2OO was offered. I want to see the police reports, to see if this is true or not-. “DON’T BELIEVE A WORD OF IT.” The magistrate (to Mr Thomas): What have you got to say to that? Mr Thomas replied that he knew that some of the land agents had been doing fairly well in business, but he did not think they were doing so well that they would be willing to hand £2OO to the Police Department, The magistrate (to Munns): I don’t believe a word of it, and I don’t know why you should make such extraordinary statements.

Munns: But I only got it across the telephone. The magistrate: I am not disposed to adjourn the application on these grounds. Munns: In that case I had better let it go on. The magistrate remarked that any time that Munns wished to give Further evidence he could do so, and Munns then made a formal application for a license to carry on business as a land agent in Christchurch. Tho magistrate read the section of the Act dealing with the matter, and looked through the papers, including the police reports, filed in connection with the application. He then informed JHunns that certain formalities were not properly complied with. “You had better get the witness box and give such evidence as you think fit,” he advised Munns. “You have got to satisfy me that you are a fit and proper person to be granted a license.” Munns: What are the objections of the Land Agents’ Association? The magistrate: They are simply objecting in the prescribed form. Munns: In that case I will have to produce witnesses. I asked' the Land! Agents’ Association a month ago for their objections, and they said they were not hound to give any reasons. The magistrate: They are not bound to give any reasons. Munns: I want to he able to produce witnesses. ' . The magistrate (to Mr Thomas): Are you calling witnesses? —No, Your Worship. , , , Munns said the Land Agents Association had takn a mean advantage of him by not giving any reasons for its objection. OBJECTED TO GIVE EVIDENCE. “The Association is not required to give any reasons,” again explained the magistrate. “You have now got to satisfy me that you are a fit and proper person to hold a land agent’s license.” Munns: The Association must have reasons. The magistrate: Are you going into the witness box? Munns (hesitatingly): No! no! Your Worship. I think the Land Agents’ Association has taken a mean advantage of me, and I want an adjournment. I am not prepared to face these things now. If I had known I would have got witnesses from Wellington. The magistrate: You have got to understand, M!r Munns, that when an objection is lodged, you must prove your case. More than that# you have got to satisfy me. Mr Thomas said that if Munns would go into the witness box, he (Mr Thomas) would he able to get sufficient from him to finalise his case. Munns replied that he would need to have his hooks with him. APPLICATION ADJOURNED. The magistrate: I am a busy man, and cannot have my time wasted. Are you prepared to go on now? Mupns: No I No, tar. What do you want? I would like an adjournment for a month. The magistrate: I can’t see why you can’t he ready by Friday. Munns: That would not give me time to inquire into this telephone message, and to find out if it is true or not. ... Mr Thomas: Surely that is not a serious suggestion? Munns: The Association .has been stirring up the mud, and I . should! Lave an opportunity of inquiring into the matter. .. , The magistrate adjourned the case till November 4tb.