CIGARETTE COUPONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21359, 12 June 1931, Page 9

CIGARETTE COUPONS

A FRAUDULENT PROCEEDING : / WOMAN PLACED ON PROBATION. '> > (Pe« United I'bess Association.) WELLINGTON, June 11. Having missed between 40,000 and' 60,000 returned cigarette coupons, W. D. and H. 0. Wills instituted an inquiry, as , a result' 1 of which Dorothy Madaline Major and Rita May Hanning, were charged with receiving from Eliza- * beth Haines about 8000 valued at £B3 Os Bd, knowing them have been dishonestly obtained. Major , wais further charged with receiving from' Bessie Burton about 9000 certificates in similar circumstances.

Evidence was given that when the certificates came back to the firm in. return for gifts, they were placed in. locked bins., When the firm. came to' destroy them some 40,000 or 50,000 were missed. At the same time a correspond-; ing increase was-noticed in the number of coupons being exchanged for gifts.. A watch was kept, and Mrs Hanning was found trying to dispose of a large' quantity. It was then fotind that Mrs Major had purchased about 0000' front' one of the firm’s employees. Both the accused went down to the firm’s premises and obtained about 8000 certificates from Elizabeth Haines. The total value of the coupons the accused handled was about £TO.

The magistrate adopted the suggestion of the women’s probation officer and admitted Mrs Major to three years’ probation, and Mrs Hanning to two years* probation. - .