A WIDOW’S PLIGHT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5011, 9 August 1926, Page 3

A WIDOW’S PLIGHT.

LOSS OF HER ESTATE.

PARLIAMENTARY HELP SOUGHT.

The case of an elderly widow who had no legal remedy for the alleged theft of her whole estate was discussed in the House of Representatives hist week upon a favourable recommendation by a select committee regarding her petition for the; Government's help. The lady, Mrs) Mary Pilling, Of Waihi asked .that Parliament should, if possible, alfter an investigation of the facts, grant her prayer for justice and the protection of the. Crpiwn against Richard Gooch. When, the report had been submitted to the House Mr A. M. Samuel (Ohinemuri) thanked the committee for its recommendation. The Petitioner, he said, had been defrauded by Gooch, who was at the time a sharebroker at Waihi and in a sense a public servant, being agent there for the official assignee in bankruptcy. Mrs Pilling, on the passing 4f nolicense iyi Ohinemuri, realised her assets, but Gooch, as her agent, robbed he.r of the whole amount and absconded to the Malay States. He was! located there, and immediately removed to Sydney. Mrs Pilling took proceedings in the Supreme Court, but for lack of means she could merely have his evidence taken on commission. This evidence was, as 1 she believed she had shown conclusively, a tissue off alsehoods. The. judge in the case had not granted her .the remedj' she sought, but there was- good reason to believe that he had since oome to another opinion. Unfortunately, it was now too late fof him to do anything. The petitioner now sought relief! in order that she might not before long become a charge upon the State. She had in the past received help from the late Sir William Herries, Sir Ferderick Lang, and others, and the late Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, had. expressed his belief in the Justice of her complaint.

Mr C. E. Macmillan (Tauranga) endorsed what Mr Samuel had said. Gooch, he stated, was understood to be now in Singapore, and to have considerable means. It was iftoSt desirable that, if possible, he should be brought ba,ck to New Zealand and held to account for his conduct.

The committee’s report was laid on the table. \