MAGISTRATE HAS CONSCIENCE SHOCKED

Chronicle (Levin), 4 February 1947, Page 2

MAGISTRATE HAS CONSCIENCE SHOCKED

-Press Association

HIGH AIR FORCE OFFICERS * MERTlONED IN COURT •• ; ■' . / 1

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. "1 see no differenee between a cashier rvho robs a eashbox and one who defrauds the Government in this way, " said Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., in the Magistrate 's Court today when imposing sentences of iinprisonment and probation upon John Lawrence Gettins, a clerk, who had previously pleaued guilty- to eight charges of falsely reprcsenting that the War Assets Bealisation Board had authorisid fhe dispo ,a! of radio sets and watches. In imjiosingsentence the Magistrate referred to the fact that ''liigii rank.ng Air Force officers" had purchased radio sets at sums much less than their disposal value. These officers, he said, must shar^s the disgrace and blame which had fallen on accused. - At the hearing of the case, Senior Detective E. JSL. Compton said accused had been employed by the War Assets Realisation Board -until May, 194d, m charge of the disposal of radios, and had to get the approval of a commiitee prior to the sale of any radios. The sets, the disposal value of which was £40, had been disposed of to a Group Captain F.ric Gordon Moore, Squadron Leader Louis Williaiu Garrard, Fiying Officer Lionel Thonias Donovan, Flying Officer Lioyd Sauiuel Leask, Lesiie Harvey Steel, a member of accused 's staif, William Alan Clark, an airman attached to the equipme;iit se.-tion, and to accused hiinself. Investigatious showed that accused liad not tlie appiioval of the committee for their disposal and kept no file regarding the transactions. By his faise action he had defrauded the department or £210, oeing the differenee bqtween the value of the sets at £10 each and their dispo al valuation of £40. Accused had obtained one set for hiinself at £10 and sold it for £30. "There is today an unfortunate attitude towards Governtnent property and clepredatiOus against Government property are very substan ial," said Mr. Goulding. "The actual officers who | have ient themsclves to these offences are Garrard, Donovan, Leask, Moore j and Hteel and it is impossible for me I to believe they, received these Tadios I for £10 not kmY.ving they were under charge* for a far higher auiount. It shoclcs my conscience. These officers must share the blame and disgrace that has fallen on you. It would not be farr for me not .to take into consideration the fact chat these officers have lent themsclves to this dishonest thing, and iy is dishonest: 4' i uiinri Another charge rclated to the disposal of 48 watches valued at £18 to : Paris and Coinpaiiy for £6. Accused was sent.en.ed to two months' imprisonment for the charge in which he hiinself took a radio, couvicted and discharged conccrniug the watches and ordercd to make rustitu | tion. On the charge relating to the suppl.y of a radio to Garrard, he was admitted to pro.-ation lor 18 months j and on the other charges convicted and i discharged.