TO BE ASKED TO RESIGN

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 89, 9 January 1935, Page 9

TO BE ASKED TO RESIGN

House of Commons Member

SEQUEL TO CONVICTION

(Received January 8, 7.45 p.m.) London, January 7.

The Rutherglen Unionist Association has unanimously decided to ask Captain Moss, its member, to resign from Parliament.

Captain Moss states that he cannot accede to a request to resign his seat in the House of Commons in view of bis own published statement of innocence and the fact that he is taking action to clear his good name.

A cable dated December 24 stated that a member of the House of Commons, Captain Herbert Moss, was fined. £5O, in default three months’ imprisonment, another member of the House. Mr. W. P. Templeton, was fined £25, in default three months’ imprisonment, an ex-coun-cillor, Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, was fined £lO, in default 30 days’ imprisonment, and Mrs. M. H. Macdonald was admonished when they, were charged in the Glasgow Sheriff’s Court with contravening the Lotteries Act under the auspices of the School-of Art Union. Mr. J. Baxter Peters, a member of the National Liberal Club, pleaded not guilty and will be tried on January 10. ' Sheriff Robertson declared the scheme was a swindle. He gave evidence that the union had violated its constitution and forfeited the Board of Trade sanction, regarding which the accused had been warned. A mysterious person started the scheme in London and interested two artists in it. Three fictitious companies were formed. Moss became chairman of the School of Art and imported Templeton, who brought in Mackenzie. Mrs. Macdonald was office assistant. The sum of £2500 was allegedly deposited in the name of one of the fictitious companies and was withdrawn. Seven hundred and thirty-five thousand appeals for subscriptions were sent out and 44,000 letters were returned. Some people sent 12/6, and others from 5/- to 10/-, totalling about £lO,OOO. The sum of £1246 was lodged and £1226 drawn out of the union’s bank account.

The balance-sheet, which was allegedly untrustwsiihy, showed £5OOO which was received was almost entirely disbursed in expenses, showing a net loss of £2276, but £3700 was admittedly never paid in to the bank account. Accused bought a number of pictures at 22/6 and 27/6 apiece and some of the winners of these prizes felt they were unfortunate. Moss was the bead and brains of the venture and acted with a full knowledge of the situation.