FALSE DECLARATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1937, Page 9

FALSE DECLARATIONS

By Telegraph—Press Association.

SUSTENANCE BENEFITS ~~~ VnHTJAL THEFT INVOLVED. PROSECUTION IN EVERY CASE. COMMBNT MADE BY MAGISTRATE.

Auckland, Last Night. The view that it was the duty of the Labour Department to prosecute in every case where it was satisfied that a man on sustenance had deliberately made a false declaration to obtain a benefit to Miich he was not entitled under the Employment Promotion Fund was expressed by Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court to-day when a further 10 offenders were fined. "There are many cases throughout New Zealand where hardships have been fiivolved and where the department has made arrangenients with the offenders to repay sums dishonestly; obtained without taking them to court," said Mr. A. T. Grandison, district employment officer of the departinent, when prosecuting JOseph Fletcher Nicoll on a charge of making a false statement. "Investigations sometimes disclose special circumstances which warrant sorrie lenieney being extended to offenders and this is one such a case." Illhess ih defendant's family had aggravated the hardships of living on relief pay and 1 doubtless had increased the temptation for defendant to augment his inoome by making a false declaration, said Mr. Grandison. The circumstances caused tlie department to defer oourt action ' and give the offender an opportunity of refundiiig by reasonable instalments but only two payments. were made. 1 • "The department considers that if it Were now denied the power to exercise the right of processes previously ' withheld it would be forced to refuse -consideration in many cases similar to this where severe -hardship would warrant deferring legal action," Mr. Grandison added. "The department should not differentiate just because it thinks a man's domestic- affairs are hard," said the magistrate. "In matters such* as that before the court vlrtuai theft is involved and the offenders should be prosecuted. The court should be allowed to decide the matter of penalty." Nicoll was fined £5 . and costs 10s.