HOSPITAL FUNDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20639, 30 January 1937, Page 9

HOSPITAL FUNDS

SECRETARY CHARGED WITH THEFT By Telegraph —Presp Association WAIPUKURAU, January 29. Percy Raeburn Smyrk, managing secretary of the Waipawa Hospital Board, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to-day before Mr J. Miller, S.M., charged with the theft on September 29, 1936, of £45/14/9, the property of the Board. Pat Sharpin, cashier, said there was an arrangement by which he acted as Smyrk’s banker, holding his salary and paying his private accounts. Sometimes on the instructions of the accused he borrowed money from the Board’s imprest account to advance to Smyrk’s. .In September Smyrk owed the imprest account £5. Smyrk received an account of £45 for his daughter’s school fees,'"and witness paid it from money drawn for Board members’ travelling expenses. Smyrk later drew his October salary in advance, and this went towards making up the deficiency. Other sums were advanced to Smyrk at various times to pay bookmakers. In December, when witness was interviewed by the audit inspector, the deficiency in the Board’s funds was £35. There was no suggestion that Smyrk intended to retain the money borrowed. From July to December 2 Smyrk was never square with witness’s imprest account. The audit inspector gave evidence that Smyrk had previously been warned that he must not overdraw his salary. The accused was committed for trial, bail being allowed.