SUSTENANCE OFFENCE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 9, 26 January 1937, Page 7

SUSTENANCE OFFENCE

P^€ss Aasociation.)

Failure to Declare Full Earnings

CONCERTED ACTION SUSPECTED

(J3v Teleerauli —

NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 25. Charges of making false declarations to the district empioyment officer • w«re preferred against 20 sustenance men in the New Plymouth Police Court. It was, alleged that for the purpose of obtaining benefits for themselves under the Employmeut Premotion Act the men failed to declare their earnings over a. certain period. In the m-tjority of eases the Magistrate, Mr. W. H. Woodward, took the course followed by the Magistrqte at Auckland recently and fiued the men the amount of the sustenance. they had been overpaid. "These men were working on the ship Napier Sitar on Qctober 9 and 10 and on Octobep 12 they had to make a deelaration of the eavxunga for the purpose of obtaining sustenance," stated Mr. E, V. Jones, district employment Officer. "They omitted to declare their earnings or full amounts, with the result that sustenance totalling £22 17/- was overpaid, although the individual amounts. wefe small. These cases are taken mainly as a warning to others." He added that the department took a, seriaus "view of the matter as two? thirds oi the men on sustenance made false declarations and it looked as if some concerted action was taken, "It is no fault of the Lakony Department," said counsel fpr the men"AJ1 these men had been giyen to understand that this was not an offence. I canpot say how this information was given but it was. They recognise no,w it; is au offence and it has been going on all pver the country. M°re thau that I 6p. not care to say." "This infovmation couid pot have been given by any authority," remarked the Magistrqte. , "No," replied Mr. Moss. "It came rrom. sources which are n°t official and ' i think it has led the men into doing this. It has been looked on as not being aq offence. The men realise now that they have committed a breach of uhe law."