TIMBER FRAUD ALLEGED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 272, 17 November 1943, Page 3

TIMBER FRAUD ALLEGED

CHARGES AT CHRISTCHURCH (P.A.) Christchurch, Nov. 15. Charged with intent to defraud by attempting to obtain from the United States Joint Purchasing Board sums of money by falsely representing that the grade or quality of certain timber supplied was higher than the timber actually supplied, five executive members of timber companies appeared before Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. The men charged and the amounts involved were:—Wilfred Henry Banks IPapanui Timber Coy.), £280; John Cyril Southern Bush (C. E. Otley, Ltd.), £l6; William Joseph Loader (Western Timber Company), £26; Harold Candish Smart (W. W. Keighley and Co.), £18; and Harry Thomas Stubberfield (Riccarton Timber Co.), £l9. Charles Edward Trippner, one of the defendants, failed to appear and the charge against him was stood down. Mr. A. W. Brown, and with him Mr. T. A.. Gresson, prosecuted. Mr. G. G. Lcckwood appeared for Banks and Mr. C. S. Thomas for the other defendants.

Mr. Thomas suggested that the cases, with the exception of that against Banks, an indictable one, be sojourned sine die. Pleas of not guilty were entered by Bush, Loader, Smart and Stubberfield, the charges being adjourned sine die. Reginald Henry Murray, Conservator of Forests ir. Canterbury, said that in January he received orders lor timber from the Timber Controller. Copies of the orders had been forwarded to the secretary of the North Canterbury Timber Merchants’ Association. The timber was to be supplied in the grades specified by the Controller and was ultimately destined for a naval hospital in the Pacific. Murray said that he later inspected the timber. As a result witness communicated with the Timber Controller and, acting on instructions, had ordered that the timber be hela and regraded. Witness noticed a small quantity of timber that appeared to be much below grade. Banks had been notified that the timber was rejected and had better be replaced. It was a very small quantity. It was not a case of grading but of broken timber.

Alfred Owen Wilkinson, secretary to the North Canterbury Timber Merchants’ Association, said that a circular which he had sent to Association members showed the grades required for the timber ordered by the Controller. After ascertaining what the various merchants could supply, said witness, he had worked out a list, which he sent to the Papanui Timber Company. Another allocation was sent to the North Canterbury Timber Company. Mr. Brown Was there any change at any time in the grades of the timber specified?—No. Witness was questioned by Mr. Brown as to whether he knew that the timber was intended for an American naval hospital in New Caledonia and he replied that he did not know its destination. All he knew was that it had been an order for the United States Joint Purchasing Board. When shown a copy of his own circular, written in January, which indicated that it was for the hospital, witness said he had forgotten that fact and the circular had refreshed his memory. John Irving Cook (now in the Army and formerly a forester employed by the State Forestry Service at Hanmer Springs) said that he had assisted in the inspection and grading of the timber. Witness said that he had heard Lysaght's evidence, which he corroborated. He agreed with the grading performed by that officer. Evidence as to the railing of the timber on February 3 by the Papanui and North Canterbury Companies was given by Leo O'Malley, stationmaster at Papanui. It was dispatched to Lyttelton, he said, for the United States Joint Purchasing Board. How he had interviewed accused on June 3 was related by Detective-Ser-geant McClung, who said Banks admitted being in charge of the Papanu. and North Canterbury Companies. Accused was also aware, said witness, that the order was for the United States Joint Purchasing Board, but when questioned as to whether he had supervised the despatch ot the order lie declined to reply. Mr. Brown: Did you ask him if he had. purchased any second-grade timber?”—Yes, but he declined to answer. He did, say, though, that he accepted full responsibility for the order that had gone out. Later Banks and his brother had accompanied witness and others to the yards and had seen the timber that had been rejected and which, Lysaght claimed, had come from his companies. Banks then agreed with ‘the identification.

Counsel: Were you present when a portion of matai flooring was pointed out to him?—Yes. That was at the Butler Timber Company's yards. Did you notice any nail holes in it? —Yes. Accused said that it had been used for the flooring of a tent and that it had been included in the order by mistake.

William George Weigel, photographer, said that at the request of J. F. Lysaght. of the State Forestry Department, he had photographed certain timber at the Jarrah Timber Company's yards in Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch.