ALLEGED THEFT OR RECEIVING

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 22, 21 October 1942, Page 8

ALLEGED THEFT OR RECEIVING

Manufacturer’s Trial

The hearing continued yesterday ot the case in the Supreme Court, AVellingtou, before Mr. Justice Blair, in which Sydney Klinberg, managing director of Tiny Tots Clothing Manufacturing Co., has entered a plea of not guilty to alternative charges of stealing or receiving 51100 yards of Kabe crepe, and 4300 yards of georgette, valued together at £ll7ll 5/10, the goods and chattels of Woolworths (N.Z.), Ltd.

Mr. W. 11. Cunningham is conducting the case for the Crown, and Mr. AV. J. Stacey, with him Mr. G. C. Kent, is appearing for defendant. Robert. Leeds Tasker, a soldier, said that before entering tne Army last January, he had been representative in Wellington of 11. W. Airey, Ltd., Auckland. From bis office tn Wellington he had done business with AVoolworths. He had obtained authority, from the firm to do some business on bis own account in connexion with piece goods on . the local market. Following the imposition of import. restrictions, a local market had developed in piece goods which had become available from manufacturers. Transactions involving those goods were carried on without exchange of documents. He knew Raymond • Watts, a buyer for AVoolworths, and did business with him in connexion with the manufacturers. At this point his Honour interposed: “I have christened this market the grey market. It is a form of trading which would not have been looked upon with favour in ordinary days.” ■ Tasker said he was not a licensed wholesaler, and had arrangements with a Mr. Nairn to put transactions through. He membered the transactions with Tiny Tots. Watts told him that Tiny Tots had some goods for sale for cash which AVoolworths might be able to buy. He saw Klinberg, ■ whom he had not met before. From him he got samples, quantities anil Prices. He understood the goods were Klinberg’s. He bought the quantity of goods Tiny Tots had for sale and sent the S.P.D. carriers to collect. the goods.- He then obtained a cheque from Nairn, cashed it. at Nairn’s bank, and paid the cash to Klinberg, deducting his own brokerage. He saw Klinberg again, when he went to pay Tiny Tots for the goods. Evidence of Watts. Evidence was given as to the transactions between himself, Tasker, and Kimbers, by Raymond John AVatts, at present serving a term of imprisonment for theft and failure to account for money to his former employers, Woolworths. He said he received between £2OO and £250 from Klinberg, fixing that sum on the basis of what Tasker said he had paid Klinberg. It. was possible that Tasker, who knew nothing of other transactions, had misunderstood the import of the original conversation. . • ’ Accused, giving evidence, said he recalled goods receipt 5843. From those goods garments were made. The goods on receipt 5484 arrived in his absence and were signed for by his wife. He had not been advised the. second lot was being sent, and he was in a quandary. He .therefore awaited instructions. There had been no conversation between him and AVatts .before the arrival of the goods, nor was there afterward, till AVatts rang a day or so after and told -him the goods were not intended for Tiny Tots and lie would send a carrier for them. Tiny Tots machines were never designed to take georgette material and none had ever been manufactured. He was at the factory when the carrier called for the goods. The carrier said he was from Woolworths and he pointed out the goods to him. He took them away and also took the receipt docket, marked ‘returned.” It. was not true he had paid AVatts £2OO or £250. He had a slight recollection of meeting Tasker once, in Watts office. . The hearing was adjourned till this morning.