Pay Sheets For Men Not Employed

Chronicle (Levin), 8 September 1948, Page 3

Pay Sheets For Men Not Employed

Press Association) >

i Per

- Auckland,, sept. 7. , Further police evidence concerning the alleged discrepancies in Public Works Department wage vouchers and eartage sheets, was called today when the hearing of 27 charges of theft 'and forgery against three men, were heard before Justices of the Peace. The accused are George Maleolm Smith, aged 35, clerk; Mat.e Delich, aged 58, contractor; " and James Fullerton Brown, aged 43, insurahce agent. The hearing is not expecjted ;to life ' eompleted before Friday .and there1 afe still 'over 30 witp.6sses' to be, heard. " ' ' Neil Gustofsph, inspector for the Department at Auckland; said that Mr. Thompson, supervisor of the Departflieiit 's wprk at Whenuapai and Hobsonville, showed him offieial'fime books and'SvagfeW sheets' in'respect of two carpenters, R. Lawless and A. Tonkin, on June.ll, They were ce'rtified by ' the aceiised 'Smith and by Thompson, as certifying officer. Witness continued that as a result of the wa'ges a'nd time documents and what Thompson said, he handed him £41 the net amount of pay due to the two men. Later the same day, Thompson returned to his office and gave the money back to witness. iSjfli far the employees Lawless and Tonkin had not elaimed money. Ilarold Henry Thompson, supervisor at Whenuapai and Hobsonville, said it was his job to certify wage and eartage sheets. It was not necessary for him to have personal knowledge of the workmen and' contractors. He ngreed that he should have made certain that the dockets should have been' signed by a field officer before he signed and certified "them. Witness testilied how Smith had told him that Tonkin, and Lawless were to be paid off at midday on . June 11 beeause they were bad workmen. Witness said he collected the. money for the men from .Gustofson and went to Whenuapai to pay the men. Wlien he arrived there, he was told the men had gone to Auckland. He particularly wanted to see the nien as he was short pf carpenters and wanted them for another job. He later became dissatislied that the men had ever been employed. lan Ramsay Webster, building overseer for the Department at Whenuapai, said he did not have two carpenters, Lawless and Tonkin, working for him at Whenuapai or Hobsonville. After further evidence the case was adjourned.