IN BANKRUPTCY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 21, 21 December 1932, Page 12

IN BANKRUPTCY.

LABOURER’S FAILURE. Showing debts amounting to £125 18s 6d owing to unsecured creditors, and no assets, John Madden, a labourer, was examined in bankruptcy at Palmerston North yesterday afternoon before the Doputy Official Assignee, Mr C. E. Dempsy. Bankrupt was represented by Mr McLeavey.

The principal creditors were shown as follow:—Palmerston North Hospital Board, £56 ss; E. R. Wimsett, £3O 18s; F. J. Calder, £l2 4s; S. R. Wauglr, £6 11s; Dr. Hunter Will, £5 15s 6d; G. H. Bennett and Co., £2 15s 6d; Millar and Giorgi, £2 10s; E. D. Wycherley, £3; Williams and Mclvegg, £1 17s 6d. Bankrupt, in a sworn written statement, stated that he had been in permanent employment until July, 1929, and at that time liis total liabilities did not exceed.. £4O. Ho was unemployed from then until December in the same year, when he obtained a position as a salesman, but was only in it a week when ho met with a motor accident and was in hospital for four months. After his discharge he was unemployed until August, 1930. Ho secured a job for a few months and was then'out again until he obtained casual labouring work in 1931. He was off for six weeks with an injured hand, but had sine© been in more or less permanent employment. His wages were required to support his wife and liimself. Through the issue of a warrant of committal he had been forced to file. Examined on oath, bankrupt stated that he had been employed since March, 1931, and had been earning £3 12s 8d weekly, but he could not see how lie could make an offer to his creditors. The D.O.A. : There are men rearing families on that wage. Have you made any effort,to payf—Certainly. Mr Wimsett, on© of the creditors, suggested that bankrupt had not been pressed to pay the Hospital Board account.

Bankrupt said ho had made no arrangement with the board, but understood that his case was subject to review. The solicitor for bankrupt said he had been informed that the board had written off the account. Mr Wimsett: Why have you not been paying off your debts while you have been in permanent employment? —I have been keeping out of debt. Mr Wimsett: What, on £3 12s 6d a week, with no children, and. no furniture. The D.0.A.: From what I can see he has made no effort at all to pay. Bankrupt: I had no desire to file. The D.0.A.: And no desire to pay either. Mr Wimsett: Exactly, why did you file? —To save spending Christmas in gaol. Mr Wimsett: You do not want to pay anybody, do you ? Bankrupt said his job was only from day to day, and he never knew when he might be put off. He was doing his best. Mr Wimsett suggested that bankrupt’s filing was just a high-class way of getting out of his debts. “Would you be prepared to make an offer of so much a week out of your present wages?” he asked bankrupt. —No, I cannot at present.’ Nor at any future time either? Mr Wimsett moved that in view of bankrupt’s refusal to make an order on his wages, the creditors oppose his discharge until such time as he paid Sem at least 10s in the £l. Mr E. ycheriey seconded the motion, which Iwils carried. • oTho meeting was adjourned sine die. 'i'lM Ht