FALSE STATEMENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 6, 22 January 1937, Page 6

FALSE STATEMENT

Man Who Secured Unemployment Benefits

FINE OF £5 IMP0SED

Gharged with making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a benefit under the Employment Promotion Act, 1936, Thomas Muxnane, oi Napier, labourer, was fined £5, with 10/- costs, by Mr J. Miller, S.M., in the Napier Magistrate's Court this morning. Defendant pleaded not guilty, stating ' that he was not certain that compensation would be paid to him foi an .aeeident he had suffered, and that he had done other work. Deteetiv& Sergeant H. NuttaJl said that defendant had been empioyed on part-time woik by the Napier Harbour Board and at the Napier Girlsb High School. On Oetober 20 he reported at the High School, and then went to the Harbour Board shed, suffered an aeeident, and was placed on the compensation list. The nextjday, and on following days, he worked ari-the Girls' High School in his injured condition; and was subsequently paid. He also received compensation and filled in a declaration showing incoine otlier than that to be 11/L , As a result of tlns he was allotted other work that he Would uot have received had he disdosed the triie facts of the case. When the position had been pointed out to him, he repaid the money. Mr A. E. Lawry, who defeilded Muruaue, •admitted the facts, .but eontended that the. defendqut had been under a niisapprehension. In the witness-box defendant sgid he now appreciated the true position. Questioned r»garding payment tor work he had sot done at • the High School on the day he was hurt, wituess replied that tlie work was done *>n another day. He admitted that he did not work full time on the days He was empioyed afteT the aeeident. The Magistrate commented that he could not make the fine less than £5. Six weeks wars allowed in whicb to pay.