FUNDS MISUSED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 September 1932, Page 6

FUNDS MISUSED

FINES IMPOSED FOR BREACH OF UNEMPLOYMENT ACT The first case heard in the district under the Unemployment Act came before Mr. S. L. Paterson yesterday morning, when A. J. Rust and xl. Skinner were jointly charged with misleading the certifying officer by breaking the regulations dealing with the Unemployment Act, 1930. Constable Cummings prosecuted and exp'lained that Skinner had been employed under the 4A Seheme by Rust. He worlced for Rust for some time and then left and went on to a farm of his own but did not advise the certifying officer that the engagenient with Rust had been cancelled. He went occasionally and did a day's work with Rust who had continued to sign the official form. Approximately £9 had been falsely obtained. Skinner had been drawing £1 per week from Rust and £1 from the Unemployment Board. Both defendants pleaded guilty. Counsel for Rust 'explained that his client had no intention of defrauding the Unemployment Board. He thought that he was doing Skinner a good turn. Rust had given the certifying officer a full statement of what had happened. The Magistrate took a serious view of the matter and stated that monies for the unemployment fund had been raised by heavy taxation and that fines for oitences sucli

as this must be heavy in order to act as a deterrent. Each defendant was fined £10 and costs. A month was allowed in which to pay.