HEAVY DEFALCATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18545, 4 May 1922, Page 4

HEAVY DEFALCATIONS

Secretary pleads guilty. ■ Uxrnm Pawa Arsooiatiox.) M. WELLINGTON, ,M*y 3. /William Henry Pollock, formerly well krrotfn as a prominent New Zealand athleWSwho for some seven years has been seligtary to the firm of Nelson, Moate (LwH, appeared before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.Hpj at the Magistrate’s Court to-day cKfefeed with the theft between September l.fifel, and March 20. 1922, of sums of money totalling £927 19s 3d, the property offrfbe firm. It was stated that the total anSdjjnt was £2741*183 7d. Safe chief detective appeared on behalf o®e police, and Mr W. Perry for the Harry Walter Moss, a director in the firtfitof Nelson, Moate (Ltd.), Wellington, Raicr the accused had been in the employ o£>the firm since it came into existence. Sejfcpn years ago he was secretary of the fin4j\.;j6pja position .including, the duties of, accotmrant. Pollock had control of practically the whole of the financial business of the company. ■ Ernest Wm. Hunt, accountant, said the audit for the firm had been conducted uiitjer his supervision for the past three yeate: ? Witness ■ had had evidence that the payjnehts into the hank were not as regular as they should have been, and it was decided to secure the pay-in slips for January and February as a test. On - comparing these with the cash books, however, they were found to be in order, although; it was discovered that the pay-in slips forth© previous and subsequent month were quit© irregular. As a result of inquiries made from customers of the firm an examination of the finances of Nelson, , Moate- (Ltd.) was made, and it was discohered that the accused had misappro- : priated money to the extent of £2741 18s ' 7di extending over a period, so Pollock informed him, of six or seven years. The defalcations between September I, 1921. ‘at)sd March 20, 1922, amounted to £927 , 196# 3d. To Mr Perry; The annual turnover of Nelson, Moate (Ltd.) averaged £35,000. Pollock afforded witness every assistance he possibly could in clearing up the matter. Detective Walsh said that on . April 28 last tho accused surrendered himself to witness for prosecution on the present charge. The accused said that ho desired tpiclear the matter up. A statement setting out* the defalcations was shown to Pollock, whp said that to the best of his knowledge it was correct. Pollock made a statement and said that he received a salary of £375 as secretary of the firm. Some six or seven years ago he had got into financial difficulties. Pollock pleaded guilty, and was committed- to the Supreme Court for i , sentence. Bail was allowed in the sum of £SOO, and Pollock was ordered to- report daily to the police.