FORGED PAYSHEETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19786, 9 March 1927, Page 5

FORGED PAYSHEETS

TWO OFFICIALS CHARGED RAILWAY DEPARTMENT DEFRAUDED [ Per Press Association. 1 CHRISTCHURCH, March 8. In tho Magistrate’s Court, James Neilson and Gavin Gordon Watson, railway clerks of 12 and 14 years’ service respectively, were charged witn having forged various signatures on paysheets of tho maintenance brane* of the Department. It was stated that tho shortage amounted to £5364. In a statement Neilson admitted the forgeries, saying that he had spent the money on a motor car, gambling, and drink. A Departmental officer said that there were names on the paysheets of men not employed on the railways. The forgeries had been going on since December 3, 1925. • In answer to Mr Sargeant (for accused) witness said that the railways had no special audit office. Tho Magistrate: “Your expenditure runs into millions a year. Surely you have someone responsible?” Witness: “The Department relies on its trusted officers.” “It seems that tho sum of £5OOO has been lost through want of an efficient system of auditing,” observed the Magistrate, “I know that no system of audit is absolutely proof, but a thing of this sort should not go on.” Both accused pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial on bail each of £250 and a surety of £250. They were ordered to report twice daily to tho police.