"NOT VERY HONEST."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 224, 21 September 1928, Page 5

"NOT VERY HONEST."

UNDISCHARGED BANKRUPT.

GAOL FOR INCURRING DEBTS.

FILED TWICE EST AUCKLAND,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day.

George Wilcox, who was in business in Ashburton as a parage proprietor and motor car agent, was sentenced to-day to three months' imprisonment for having obtained £20 in credit from- the Vacuum Oil Company without having disclosed the fact that he was an undischarged bankrupt. He was twice adjudicated bankrupt at Auckland seven years ago, before he went to Ashburton, and this year he was adjudicated at Timaru. Mr. Russell, who appeared for Wilcox, said that he was 32 years of age. He was born at Torrington, England, and when eighteen years old he went to the war with the Ist Life Guards. On being discharged he joined the Transport Corps and he was commended in dispatches. He came to New Zealand in 1920, and after being in business as a taxi driver in Auckland he became bankrupt. In Wellington he was chaaffeur to Sir Francis Bell, who gave him an excellent discharge. He came to this part of the Dominion as a salesman for Dominion Motors. He took over the Ashburton agency and leased the rail-1 way garage. There was a large turn- j over in the business. All his small Ashburton creditors had been paid, leaving only one creditor there. He owed the Vacuum Oil Company about £420. It represented only one month's supply of oil and petrol. In twelve months he sold 72 cars for Dominion Motors. His trouble was that he had no proper supervision over his business. He was not dishontest .n his trading. Mr. Justice Adams: His creditors are entitled to say that he must see that he trades honestly. That is the position. Mr. Russell said that it was not contended that Wilcox had traded dishonestly. His Honor: That is the gravamen of the charge, that he carried on business and incurred debts without telling anybody that he was undischarged. Surely it is not very honest, is it'/