FALSE DECLARATION

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1928, Page 4

FALSE DECLARATION

AVAR PENSIONER. FINED. AUCKLAND, March 2. An ex-soldier, Joseph Avery, who lost a log in the battle of the Somme, came before Mr AA’. R. McKean, S.M., at the Police Court this morning on two charges of having made a false declaration to a Pensions Officer. He pleaded guilty. The Registrar of Pensions said the Department claimed a penalty on the charges, while Avery would have to refund a sum of CIS odd which lie had received as a result ol a lalse declaration. Mr R. A. Singer, who appeared for defendant, said that Avery went to the war early in 1915, and lost his leg in France. On his return he was granted a life pension of L 1 12s per week. In 1924 Avery obtained an advance ol (1300 on his pension and with the money purchased a eonk-ctionery business in Wellington. Three weeks after he started business the shop was burnt down and all that Avery received was the insurance money which lasted him seven months. Avery was then destitute. He had a wife to keep and applied for and was granted an economic pension of £(i 10s per month. The i of them had to exist oil that, ill October last Avery secured employment at Rotorua hut this lasted only until the middle of November. Alter all. by the offence committed Avery had obtained only the small sum of CIS 7s Id from the Government, which he was not entitled to. “ The pensions paid are inadequate and they get more inadequate the further away the vista of the war goes,” said counsel. He added that Avery had no money and was not working. It would lie an iniquity to send such a mail to prison. “ Your counsel suggests that to obtain money from the Government by false pretences as you have done is less reprehensible than to obtain il from anyone else.” Air McKean told Avery. “ But lam not concerned about how you can pay hack the money you have obtained by this lalse pretence. It is a had case and you will he lined Co and 10s costs on the first charge and convicted and ordered to pay costs on the second.”