THIRD DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 31, 5 August 1936, Page 13

THIRD DAY

MCARTHUR TRIAL

ACCOUNTANTS' EVIDENCE

CASE FOR THE CROWN

To enable the jury to. follow the multiplicity of figures quoted by Arthur Eric John Anderson, a Public Trust Office accountant, at the continuation of the trial of John William Shaw McArthur in the Supreme Court today, they were supplied with several copies of a large-sized statement of debenture capital and of investments allegedly made by the Investment Executive Trust of New Zealand, Ltd. This statement, which was on blue paper with the figures in white, had been prepared by Mr. Anderson, who did the accountancy work in connection with the liquidation of the Investment Executive Trust and associated companies, which were liquidated under the Companies (Special Liquidations) Act, 1934.

McArthur, a company director, formerly of Auckland, is,on trial on six charges of issuing allegedly false prospectuses and reports in respect of the Investment Executive Trust of New Zealand, Ltd. . Today is the third day of the trial, which is being presided over by the Acting Chief Justice (Sir John Reed). When the hearing of the case was resumed ftoday the Crown had still a great deal of evidence to call, so much, in fact, that it was difficult to make even an approximate estimate of when the evidence for the prosecution might [be expected to be completed.

Mr. V. R. Meredith and Mr. C. EvansScott are conducting the prosecution, Mr. H. F. O'Leary, ICC, and Mr. R. E. Tripe appearing for the defence.

Mr. O'Leary made a successful application for McArthur to be allowed to leave the dock and sit near his counsel. Mr.. O'Leary explained that the defence would for a while be without the services of Dr. Louat.

Anderson was still giving figures from the witness-box when the Court adjourned for luncheon and he continued his evidence this afternoon.