WATERSIDE FRAUDS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20463, 1 April 1938, Page 8

WATERSIDE FRAUDS

AOOUBED BENTENOED PROBATION FOR YOUNGEST MAGISTRATE’S WARNING (Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Friday " I look on this matter as a very serious one,” said Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Auckland Police Court yesterday iq sentencing, the six casual watersiders who admitted frauds in connection with compensation claims. “It is an organised and planned system of theft. I think Mr Nalder is correct when he says the.y got the Idea from the American magazine, but we have to stop these American njethods. I am going to punish these offences severely. I am going to check it in the bud, so that it does not go any further. “ Th£ youngest one is Parsons. Against my better judgment I am going to give him a chance,” continued the magistrate, admitting accused to probation, and ordering him to make full restitution, £sl 12s Bd, for the frauds and theft. “ You stole a considerable amount, and you are old enough to know better,” said the magistrate to Peter Freeman, sentencing him to six months’ hard labour on one charge and to three months’ hard labour on another, the terms to be cumulative, and fining him £4O on a third charge. Reilly, Edmond Freeman, John Freeman and Varney were each sentenced to siz months’ imprisonment on each of two charges, the terms to be cumulative, and were also fined £4O each. “ If there are any other of these offences I can assure the wrong-doers that this will be nothing to the sentence they will get,” was the magistrate’s final warning. BENEFITS BY FRAUD FOUR MEN IMPRISONED (By TelegTapb.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday Rowland Tallis Egar was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment for obtaining sustenance benefits by false pretences, George Frederick Elliott to a month, Albert Rainsford Haslem to two months and Arthur Reginald Kinsey to a month.