IN BANKRUPTCY

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 54, 4 April 1930, Page 5

IN BANKRUPTCY

DAV1D GUYAfElt'S FAILURE. MEETING OF CREDITORS. A meeting of creditors m the bankrupt estate of David Guymer, labourer, of Hastings, was held in Hastings yesterday afternoon, before Mr G. ' G. Chisholm, ofiicial assignee. Mr T. O'Dovd appeared for bankrupt. The statement oi accounts showed the total debts at £215 13s 2d, tbe only asset being a book debt of £99 I7s 2d, alleged to be due by the Hawke's Bay Builders' and General La'bourers' Union. ie personal statement was as iollows : — "I am toy occupation a labourer ul reside at Hastings. 1 am a married man with a wife and grown-up family. I am 60 years of age next birthday and at present am not in any regular employment. Owing to the state of my health I have been for a long time unable to do anything but very light work. My wife supports the home with earnings from her wood and coal business. This business is conducted by my son-in-law on my wife's behalf. I assist my son-in-law foy attending to the telephone and doing odd light jobs when I am able. 1 do not receive any regular wages for this assistance. 1 was at one time employed as secretary to the Hawke's Bay Builders' and General Labourers' Union and my only assct represents tbe sum of £99 17s 2d owing by that union to me. The union adniits the debt but is unable to pay me at present. I have no prospect of being able to pay my creditors anything unless the amount owing to me 'oy the union is paid. Wilkins, one of my creditors obtained an order on a judgment summons against me, and issued a warrant of commitment. I was unable to nieet this claim or any part of it and have been compelled to file a petition in hankruptcy in order to avoid being sent to gaol. T borrowed the sum of £8 2s from three of my friends to enable me to file." DAMAGES AWARDED. In answer to the offieial assignee, bankrupt stated that the wood and coal business was started in his wife's name, In reply to Mr Duff, foankrupt stated that the £74 10s 2d owing to . H. Wilkins was damages for assault. Ho had also been fined £5 for this assanlt and this fine had been paid. His wife had been carrying on the wood and coal business since 1924. He denied that he had purchased a saw-bench recentlv. This was knocked down to him at an auction sale, but the bid was that of his son-in-law who was with him, and it should have been knocked down to him. He denied that he had told anvone that he would not pay Wilkins. He admitted that in his opinion, the judgment against him was not a fair one. Mr F. P. Kellv pointed out that bankrupt had previousiy given an order for £60 of the union money due, to be paid to Freethey and Riley for a grocery de'bt. Mr Chisholm : Well, the position is not very rosy for the creditors. The matter of recovering this debt was left with tlie offieial assignee and Mr Kelly and the meeting adjourned.