Page 8 Advertisements Column 4

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1919, Page 8

ELECTRIC LIGHT ACCOUNTS. DISCREPANCIES IN COLEECTOK'S RETURNS. Ralph Farmer, who until the 22nd o September last, had, for some time, beei electric meter reader for the New Ply mouth Borough Council, appeared befor Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., yesterday, oi four charges of committing theft at Nev Plymouth on various dates inasmuch a being a servant of the Borough Counei lie received certain sums of money oi terms requiring him to pay the same h the Borough treasurer, and that he hai fraudently omitted to pay such sums in The informations wore laid by Mr. ?J H. Fowler, of the Audit Department, fo whom Mr. H. R. Billing appeared. De fendant was not represented by counse and pleaded not guilty to all the charges electing to go to trial by a jury. The amounts involved in the informa tions were: A. E. Sykes, £1 8s fid; Julii M._ Garner, £1 !)s !>d; J. S. Philps, £', 15a 3d; and M. Gray, £1 7s 9d. Ther are a number of other amounts for whiel defendant is alleged to have failed to ac count. Evidence was given by the partie: named, to the effect that they had paii the amounts stated in the information to defendant on account of electric ligh and heating charges. They received re , ceipts for the amounts. Russell H. Bartley, electrical enginee: to the Borough, deposed to defenden being employed as meter reader. Wit ness was present in the town clerk's offia at an interview with defendant when hi was charged with misappropriate moneys, and he practically admitted tin offence, and produced a list of th moneys he had taken. Felix T. Bellringer, town clerk am borough treasurer, deposed to the dutie, of defendant as meter reader, and sail he also had authority to collect account for lighting and heating from consumers He carried receipt books for the purpose and when completing his rounds was re quired to hand in his books and money; at the Borough OAice. The first indica tion that anything was wrong was thi complaint of Mr. Sykes that he had beei debited with an amount for which hi held a receipt from Farmer, .When tax ed with the matter defendant adinittei having issued a receipt to Mr. Syke: without taking a carbon copy of same Witness advised defendant that if he hai been misappropriating moneys the bes course for him was to make a "cleai breast" of it. He produced a list o people from whom he had receive! money without accounting for it. H: appeared to have kept a record of thi amounts in a diary from which he com piled the list. He had afforded tin Borough officials every assistance in in vestigating the matter. Evidence was also given by Miss Dor.' Bedford, cashier in the borough office as to the method of receiving and check iilg moneys paid in by meter readers anc collectors. She always gave a receipi for all moneys paid to her in that way John Henry Fowler, audit, inspector gave evidence as to being called in tc investigate defendant's accounts. Non* of the moneys which were the subject of the present charges had been paid into the Borough treasurer. Defendant admitted misappropriating some -moneys and explained the system by which he kept account of all'the amounts. The sum of £34 17s Cd had been traced as missing. At this stage Mr. C. 11. Croker intimated that defendant desired to consult with him as to a change of plea, and a short adjournment was allowed for the purpose. On resuming Mr. Crocker said he was instructed to plead guilty to all the charges preferred against accused, and he understood that the prosecution would withdraw,the charge in respect to the amount over £2. His Worship said he had power to deal with that case. He had no objection to the withdrawal, but he did not think it made much difference, as he was satisfied from the evidence that there had been misappropriations beyond the amount represented in the charges. Mr. Billing said that nothing was known against, accused. It appeared that his salary had not been sufficient to maintain himself and his wife and family, and though up till recently he had earned money by assisting at' the pictures at night, he had, nevertheless fallen a victim to the temptation that had come in his way. His Worship said he would order accused to come for sentence if called upon within twelve months, to repay the amount missing within that time and to pay the costs of the prosecution' Holes a Test that anyone can apply to D. and J. McCallum'a Perfection. Compare Perfection with any other brand of Whisky in the Dominion, at any price—higher or lower than that charged for Perfection. The deep, inellow, fully matured qualities and smoothness of taste of Perfection Whisky will prove how very much superior is this well known brand to the rest. Not only will you enjoy your first drink of Perfection but judicious; use will be of benefit to vour health—a final test of this Whisky's age, purity and maturity. Make the Test to-day! Cooke and Co Albert street, Auckland; Messrs. a! Hatrick and Co., Ltd., wholesale distributors, Wanganui. POLITICAL. TARANAKI ELECTORATE. MEETING of the Reform League! will be held in the SOLDIERS' CLUB, New Plymouth, on Friday, 14th,, at S p.m. Business: Important. All members and friends, both-town and country, are requested to attend. GENERAL ELECTION. TARANAKT ELECTORATE. £ADIES AND GENTLEMEN, , I beg to offer myself for re-election at the forthcoming General Election, as your representative in Parliament. T stand as a Democrat in the interests of the people, and for good, sane, stable and progressive Government. Meetings are being arranged at the various centres, at which I will give an account of my stewardship, and outline a policy for the future. Your active support is cordially solicited. i Yours Faithfully, I SYD. G. SMITH.