FINED £l00

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20247, 16 July 1937, Page 8

FINED £loo

EMPLOYMENT FRAUD. “ VERY DELIBERATE CABE.” TOOK A TRIP TO ENGLAND. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Friday. A fine of £IOO and costs was Imposed by Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., In the Police Court to-day when Joseph Hood was charged with making a false statement under the Employment Promotion Act. A Department of Labour official said Hood registered in i93i as a married man. In June last year he and the woman he had been living with went to England. On his return he immediately re-registered for relief, again describing himself as married. At no time did Hood disclose what amount of money was held by the woman with whom he lived, the official stated, adding that he received £IOO 3s in excess of what he was entitled to. Counsel for Hood said he was previously a ship's stewart but had been unable to obtain employment for six “ It seems to be a very deliberate case,” said the magistrate, -in imposing the fine. “A VICIOUS RACKET.” MAXIMUM PUNISHMENT. MAN GAOLED FOR SIX MONTHS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Describing the frauds on the Employment Promotion Fund at present as nothing less than a racket—a vicious racket —Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., sentenced Laurence Petersen, a labourer, to six months’ hard labour on two charges, of obtaining £1 by false pretences and convicted and discharged him on two other charges. This is the maximum punishment the magistrate having power to make the terms of imprisonment three months’ cumulative on two charge* only. It is understood that this is the first occasion in New Zealand on which a penalty of this nature has been imposed. .Mr Luxford expressed the hope that the department would employ the provisions ol‘ the Criminal Act in future.