WAITOMO COUNTY FUNDS.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1401, 8 September 1923, Page 4

WAITOMO COUNTY FUNDS.

EX CLERK CHARGED WITH THEFT VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY. ft Peter Mora, former clerk to Waitomo County Council, appearw before his Honor Mr Justice Stringer and a common jury at Hamilton on Thursday to answer a charge of stealing £23 6s 8d on August 7th, 1920, and £29 3s 4d on June 2nd, 1921, the moneys of the Waitomo County Council. Mr H. T. Gillies prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, prisoner being represented by Mr A. (HI Johnstone, instructed by Mr Vernon. George Brown, the present clerk and treasurer to the Waitomo County Council, said that when he took over from Mora he found that prisoner had been overpaid to the amount of one month's salary. Mora admitted this. Witness retained one month's salary owing to balance the over payment, but witness later found a new entry in the cash book by Mora crediting himself with £29 3s 4d, which still left him overpaid. He communicated with Mora, who admitted making the extra entry, and said he would square the matter up. In answer to Mr Johnston, witness said that Mora was not suspended—he resigned from the.clerkship. Early in 1921 an expert was appointed to go into the whole clerical system of the County. He was not aware that at this time the County had difficulty to keep going. Mora agreed to repay the sums which he was charged with stealing. Hugh Wylie. Government Audit Inspector, said he made the County audit in March, 1921, when he discovered an overpayment to Mora in August 1920, of £33 "6s Bd. He mentioned the matter to Mora, who said he would forego his next month's salary. The adjustment was not, however, paid by the date of the next audit. Witness made an entry in violet ink of the overpayment to guide him at the next audit, but when he again examined the books this en try had been erased. On this occasion witness found there had been a further overpayment to Mora. In June, 1921, the books were in a very muddled state and the finances were becoming chaotic. Cheques were not paid out when due. Detective-Sergeant sweeney read a statement which .prisoner made to him, in which he said he made the additional entry when he was posting the books prior to leaving. Accused, Peter Bernard Mora, said he was clerk to the County from 1911 to 1921, during which time the rates increased from £llOO to £26,000. In 1921 it was decided to institute a new system of book-keeping, and shortly after this the boundaries were alter ed very materially, while his clerk, whom he had had for six years, left to take another position. Owing to the commission which sat to adjust the boundaries he was given a tremendous amount of additional work, not only in looking up records and attending the sittings, but also by attending meetings in different parts.of the County. His work got sadly behind and for five months his books remained unposted. In addition to the ordinary accounts of the cil, he had an imprest account of £SO to enable him to make sundry payments which had to be met. The finances became a muddle, and certain overpayments were made and refunds had to be secured. When Mr Wylie informed him that he had overdrawn his salary, he immediately said he would repay any { such amount and immediately made out a personal cheque with this object, which went into the imprest account. With regard to the erasure of the auditor's note, prisoner admitted that he rubbed out the note because, having adjusted the account he did not want the expert who was appointed to go into the system of accounts to see the note. He had not received his travelling expenses from the County with respect to the commission. He was not aware that he owed the County any money. He would not deny that he had forwarded the County over £l2O from- Taihape since he left the County. The personal cheque he made out went into the imprest account, which was short at the time. The Council, he consider ed, was still in his debt. Mr Gillies commenced to crossexamine prisoner with regard to his association with the Hutt Road Board in .19; 8, when his Hoiijr refused to allow cross-examination regarding events so distant. Arthur Stanley Warren. County contractor, said he had received several payments from Mora in between the ordinary monthly cheque pay ments. On one occasion he received £3O from Mora in this way by way of advance for work done. His Honor summed up strongly in prisoner's behalf. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and prisoner v,as acquitted.