BOGUS REFERENCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 543, 21 December 1928, Page 1

BOGUS REFERENCE

ENGINEER FINED £5 THOUGHT HE WAS LUCKY According to Patrick Richard O’Shea, j vvliat lie thought at the time to be re- i markable good fortune was responsible for his obtaining a reference from a man who had originally refused him one. O’Shea was charged at the Police Court fills morning with false representation, Mr. Vallance entering a plea of not guilty on his behalf. Mr. V. N. Hubble, who prosecuted, said that O’Shea had intended entering for an examination under the Marine Department. Certain references were required, and to complete his file, O’Shea had applied to the secretary of the Kauri Timber Company for a reference as he was employed on a boat belonging to the company. The secretary had declined to give the testimonial, referring O’Shea to the chief engineer of the vessel. In spite of this the Marine Department had received a copy of a reference purporting to be signed by Mr. Hammond, the company secretary. Mr. Vallance explained that tAt* day after his request had been refused O’Shea had received a reference which h© thought to have come from Mr. Hammond. That testimonial had come by post, and, as it now appeared that Mr. Hammond had not sent it, defendant could not tell who was responsible. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.. regretted that he could not believe defendant’s story and imposed a fine of £5.