FALSE STATEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21362, 16 June 1931, Page 14

FALSE STATEMENTS

YOUTHS BEFORE COURT - ATTEMPT TO GAIN RELIEF WORK. Charged that, with intent to defraud, they attempted to obtain the sum of £1 8s from the Labour Department by falsely representing that they were 20 years of age, Frederick Coory, Ei'chard Joseph, and Eric John Smart appeared in the City Police Court before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., yesterday morning. Inspector Cummings stated the charges were with respect to the Unemployment Act. All throe of the defendants were about 19 years of age. For some time past it had been ascertained by the department that a number of men under age had been registering, and in consequence the commissioners had suggested prosecutions as a warning. The board considered that proceedings should be taken in every case, but at first they did not press for a heavy penalty. The general reputation of the youths was satisfactory, and he did not ask for a penalty. It was desirable, however, that publicity should be given to the case as a number of men under age was asking for work. One youth only 17 years of age had registered as over 20. So far as he knew there had been no other-prosecution of this kind in New Zealand, though he thought that some were pending in the north. The magistrate said that it was not usual in criminal charges to find that the underlying motive might be a good one. One must have sympathy with young men who were trying to get work, but that did not justify the making of false statements. He was loath to enter a conviction against boys who desired to get work even although they had,made false statements. He would adopt the course of adjourning the cases for 12 months. The proceedings would probably have the effect of giving publicity to the provisions of the Act. The defendants were liable to a heavy penalty, and if they did not pay it, to be sent to gaol. They were only young men, and he did not wish to enter a conviction which plight penalise them in after life. He would adjourn the cases for 12 months in the hope that they would act as a warning, but he would certainly not adopt a similar course in future cases.