FINANCE SOURCES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19123, 18 September 1936, Page 7

FINANCE SOURCES

DEMOCRAT PARTY FUNDS OFFICIALS QUESTIONED NORTHERN TREASURERDOMINION SECRETARY (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, the hearing was continued of the claim of Harry Charles Baul . who is suing several personalities ot what was the Democrat Party, foi as the balance of salary and expens - aHeeedly owing for work as the Auckauegeaiy » „ Dar ty during land organiser tor we P l .' the last election campaign.

Robert Alexander Dw, insnector, said that A. E. Da\\, one of the defendants, had approached lum to tell him he was forming a ne t party. “He asked me would Hbe in ” said the witness. Insai. 1 n sai . *,} provided the finances were all right.

At-a subsequent meeting,.an organisation known as the Democrat Party was formed and in April or June ot 1935 the witness became the treasurer and ’a member of the Auckland committee. He acted man honorary capacity. Baulf was supposed to put in statements of his accounts tfoit nightly. Those statements were put before the committee, of which J. B. Donald was the chairman.

Baulf had raised the question of money owing to him before by Donald, and Donald had said that it would be paid, but that Baulf would have to wait. It was generally understood that the money would come from Wellington. Baulf had asked at various times about money, and had always }><*en told it would bo puid. “WHERE ARE THE BOOKS?”

The accuracy of the figures had not, 10 the knowledge of the witness, ever been challenged.

"Where are the books now?” asked Mr. J. F. W. Dickson, counsel for the plaintiff, referring to the question of accounts.

"Oh, I don’t know. I last saw them in a drawer in a desk in the office,” said the witness. 'Mr Dickson: Where did you receive the money from to run this organisation?

The -witness: Except for the last cheque for £3OO, and it was received direct from Wellington, it was banked by Donald. Presumably it came from Wellington.

Under cross-examination by Mr. A. K. North, who appeared for William GoodfeUow, witness said that Goodfellow’s early advances to cover salaries were in the nature of advances to the organisation to put it on its feet. The witness said that he knew nothing of any refunds to GoodfeUow of monev he had advanced. TRUST ACCOUNT ■ - Donald had paid into the Auckland trust account at the bank approximately £SO in June, £75 in July, and £125 in August. The witness was not aware where the money was coming from. They were to have received £IOO a month from Wellington. Replying further to Mr. North, the witness said that Baulf put in a list of his expenses each month. He was paid irregularly. The witness was questioned by counsol concerning the books of the organisation. He said they had been kept by Miss. Foster. He had asked about the books following the election, and had been told that she did not know where they were. Spencer Bruce Clark, public accountant, of Wellington, said he had become interested in the party some months after its inception. He was appointed as the Dominion secretary on March 26, 1935. SHADOW CABINET When further questions had been put regarding the finances of the party, the magistrate, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, remarked* “It does not look as though they had unearthed anyone to be a Minister of Finance.”

Mr. Dickson: In the shadow Cabinet, Donald- was to be Minister of Finance. 5 The witness said that £IOO a month was to have been paid to Auckland, but it was not always paid regularly, and to his knowledge the Dominion executive had never objected to Baulf’s claim.

“If Hislop had handed over the balance of the £3200, what would have happened to these accounts?” asked counsel.

The witness: These accounts would have been paid. Under questioning by Mr. North concerning the evidence of Hislop heard in Wellington, the witness said that it was definitely organisation money. “I have no doubt of it,” he said. Mr. North: Did you object to £IOOO going to him? At this, Mr. B. Elliot, who appeared for Hislop, objected on the ground of irrelevancy.

Mr. North was allowed to continue. The witness, answering, said that he did not approve. The hearing was adjourned till Tuesday week.