FALSE REPRESENTATION

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1928, Page 1

FALSE REPRESENTATION

TWO MEN CONVICTED

PALMERSTON NORTH, July 16,

“There is 110 doubt that both of you .set yourselves out to dupe the public. Neither of you held diplomas, and I am perfectly certain that you know nothing about the subjects which you proposed to instruct this young lady in.” Thus Mr J. L. Stout, S.M. in the Magistrates’ Court, when convicting Fred J. Huddleston and John Bemston of falsely representing to Olive Ida Willis that there was ati Australian Naturopathic Association, by inducing her to part with £3l 10s.

Although the pair appeared to answer one charge only, evidence brought to light the fact that Huddleston utid Bernston had been conducting an extensive business under get-rich-quick methods. They were partners in a registered company known ns the Natural Health Institute (Manawatu) Ltd., with elaborate offices In! C. Smith’s buildings, Palmerston North, and treatment rooms in the Zcalandia Hall Buildings, Broadway Avenue. They arrived in Palmerston North at the beginning of February, Senior-Detettive Quirk© told the Magistrate, and first set out in business as drugless healers under the assumed Russian name of Bernard Loivbatchcwsko. In April last they invited pupils to learn! the art of naturopathy, with -tlie prtnmso of diplomas after a certain time. A number of persons agreed to take a course, believing that the representations made by accused, that there was aii Australian Naturopathic Association, were quite tme.

Huddleston, when seen by the police on July 7th. had admitted that there was no such association, and that ho and Berntson really were the association. Ho was asked for records to show that the Australian association existed, and ho could not produce them. Some little time before the police stepped in, Huddleston had given instructions that the business .should stop and the employees lib discharged. Huddleston had no qualifications, and had nevbr passed an examination. Doth m'en had a long string of letters after their names, but nobody knew what they stood for. Accused from the witness box stated that their intention had been to start in Australia once the Now Zealand section of the business was established. * The Magistrate, after convicting the men, iefrmhded them till Wednesday for sentence, pending a report from the Probation Officer.