MAN ACCEPTS £200 MORE THAN FIXED PRICE OF FARM

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 January 1947, Page 5

MAN ACCEPTS £200 MORE THAN FIXED PRICE OF FARM

COURT ADJOURNS CASE TO FIX PENALTY (P-A■) Whangarei, Jan. 20. “This is the first case before me where a man has sold his honour for gold, and I propose to adjourn for a fortnight to consider the penalty,” said the magistrate, Mr. W. C. Harley, in the Whangarei Court to-day, when Frederick Jawes Kjoller. formerly a farmer at Broadwood, was charged that at Broad wood, on July 1, 1946, he committed an offence against the Servicemen’s Settlement Act, accepting £2OO in excess of the value of a farm and chattels approved by the Land Sales Court. Kjoller sold a farm to Gordon Mervyn Jones, whose purchase was financed by the Rehabilitation Department. He had known Jones for the

/past 18 years, and before entering the Armed Forces Jones had lived In a cottage on Kjoller’s farm. After discharge Jones discussed with Kjoller the possibility of taking over the farm, which K.ioller valued at £3BOO. Subsequently the Rehabilitation Department offered Jones a loan of £3OOO to purchase the farm, that being the amount approved by the Sales Court. £2400 being for the farm and £6OO for the stock and chattels. Kjoller and Jones arranged to exchange cars. Kjoller’s being valued at £2BO and Jones’s al £3BO. The exchange was made and Jones, in addition, gave Kjoller two cheques of £5O each. Following the amendment of the Act by which n purchaser was given indemnity for his part in the transaction, Jones reported the transaction, which had led to r. police Inquiry.

Kjoller said Jones was so anxious Io gel the farm that he had taken llm major part in the negotiations to sell at a price greater than that fixed by the Court.