CIGARETTE COUPONS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1931, Page 6

CIGARETTE COUPONS

WEL LIN OTO S' WOME N. CONVICTED OF FRAUDS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, June u. Having missed between’ forty and fifty thousand returned cigarette coupons, W. 1). and H. O. Wills, Ltd., instituted an enquiry as the result of which Mrs Dorothy Madeline Major and Rita May Hanning, were charged with receiving from Elizabeth Haines, about 8000 certificates valued at £33 6s Bd, knowing them to have been d ishonestly obta i.inxl. Airs Dorothy Major was further charged with receiving from Bessie Burton about 9000 certificates under similar circumstances. Evidence was given that when the certificates came back to the firm in return for gifts, they were/ placed in locked bins. When the firm came to destroy them, some forty of fifty thousand were missed. At the same time a corresponding increase was noticed in the number of coupons being exchanged lor gifts. A watch was kept and Alls Hanning was found trying to dispose of a large quantity, lb was then found that Airs Major had purchased about 9000 from one of the firm’s employees. Both of the accused went down to the firms premises and obtained about 8000 certificates from Elizabeth Haines. The total value of the coupons the accused had handled was about £7O.

The Ala gistrate adopted the suggestion of the woman Probation Officer, and admitted Al,rs Major to three years’ probation, and Airs Hanning to two years’ probation-.