SECRETARY ACQUITTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 506, 8 November 1928, Page 14

SECRETARY ACQUITTED

“VERY SLIPSHOD METHODS AUDITOR NOT FRANK After two hours’ deliberation a jury brought in a verdict of not guilty in the case of Frederick William Webster (Mr. A. H. Johnstone and Mr. R. K. Trimmer), ex-secretary of the Whangarei Co-operative Terminating Building Society, whose trial on a charge of failing to acount for £1,498 had occupied three days. Summing up, Mr. Justice Blair said there had been very slipshod methods of carrying on the society’s business. It was difficult to say what amounts had been received. The confusion was not of accused’s making. The judge criticised the auditor, A. M. Rust, who had “come to court to clear his honour” on the previous day. Rust had not been so frank either with the directors or with the court as one would expect. He apparently connived at the method adopted by accused of failing to synchronise the bank payments and receipts. He had put down the balance in a way that amounted to blinding the directors to the position. He allowed the books to be prepared in a way that would make it impossible, for anybody to check the receipts with the bankings