GAOL FOR CARPENTER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 24 August 1939, Page 7

GAOL FOR CARPENTER

MATERIALS NOT RETURNED

COMMENT BY BENCH

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. If the statements made by counsel were correct, j.t was time things in the Public Works Department were straightened up, said the magistrate, Mr. J. L. Stout, in the Police Court to-day after Mr. C. J. O’Regan, who appeared for William Walter Gordon, had described how “smalls” left over from jobs, were frequently no.t .returned to the supply stores. Gordon, aged 28, a carpenter, pleaded guilty to theft at Fordell in March of 'about 1900 square feet of building paper valued at £3 11s 3d. He was sentenced to one month’s hard- labour.

The police stated that the .paper was left over from paper given to the accused to line single and married men’s quarters. He sold 1500 ft. at Petone for £2. 1 When inquiries were made it was found that 100 ft. had been used. The' accused was l stated to have been before the Supreme Court on May 10 .for .the theft of union funds and it was while he was out on bail that this particular offence occurred, Mr. O’Regan said the facts, as outlined, 'required Jsome amplification. The accused genuinely believed that he had some colour of right for taking the paper. In a department such as the public works, i,t inevitably happened that exact quantities of material for jobs were not issued, and the position .had arisen that “smalls” were not always returned, The magistrate: It seems it is time that things were straightened up, considering the wages these men were getting. Mr. O’Regan said he understood that frequently small pieces of material were itaken away by the men. "Because }other people are dishonest, does it mean that your client is entitled to be dishonest,” asked the magistrate.