MING'S HABITS

NZ Truth, Issue 605, 20 January 1917, Page 7

MING'S HABITS

Failed to Produce Receipts He Had Been Perfectly Open . And is Fined £100 (From "Trulh's" Auckland Rep.) A well-known personage m Auckland military circles, Captain Robert Carnllish Hocking, was brought before Mr. R. C. Cutten, S.M., at the Auckland Police Court on Thursday of last week. * The charge jltgainst Hocking was that "being a person having the control of public moneys, he did neglect to produce at the Audit Office at Auckland, three receipts, one for £5 drawn on September 29, 1916, one for £10 drawn on October 6, and one for £10 drawn on December 20 on the maintenance account of the Third Auckland Regiment. There was also a charge of stealing the sum of £5, but this was withdrawn. Hocking, • WHO PLEADED GUILTY, was dressed m mufti, and was not represented by counsel. Detective-Sergeant Hpllis, who appeared for the police, said that accused was adjutant to the Third Auckland Regiment, and amongst his duties he had to look after and control the maintenance fund of the regiment. On the dates m question he drew cheques for £5, £10, and £10) nnd a subsequent audit by tho Government Audit inspector, showed that the cheques had been drawn on the maintenance account, but no vouchers had been mado out by tho accused to show" where the money had gone. In August last Mr. Collina, the Government auditor, interviewed Hocking and asked him to forward the three vouchers which wero missing, and later on Hocking was . again asked to produce them. He did not do so, nor had he done so. Subsequent Inquiries showed that the cheques had be<yi cashed at the Albert .Hotel. Acciiscd said that about the tlmo m question a LOT OF RECEIPTS WERE MISSTNQi and duplicated receipts had to be made out. Tho Detectivb-Sorgeant said accused could not produce either tho original or duplicate receipts for either of the threo amounts. The auditor, Collins, said he discovered the receipts were missing and had twice asked Hocking to produce them, but ho had 'not dono so. Two of tho cheques came from the Albert Hotel. Hocking (to witness) : I have been perfectly open? — Yes. I haven't denied my liability? — No. There has been no tampering with the "bonks? — No. His Worship: Where did you cash the cheques? . Accused: At tho Albert Hotel, whore I was living. £10 has been refunded, and the balance can bo, arrangod for out of my pay. Detective-Sergeant Hollis: H<» HAS BEEN SUSPENDED, and, of course, hlsj pay stopped. Hocking: Tho Defence Department owe mo about £ 30, His Worship said he had no discretion but to Impose' tho fine of £100. The Act provided tiiat when a conviction was recorded the lino must bo £ 100. ;. Aroused asked if the Minister did ; not have power to reduce the Hue and ! his Worship saUl that It was so, and : «aid that accused could wrlto to tho Minister for Defence on tho matter.