ACCIDENT SEQUEL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 87, 27 January 1947, Page 5

ACCIDENT SEQUEL

BANKRUPT FACES CREDITORS

RETURNED SOLDIER’S PREDICAMENT

Judgment was obtained against a Works Department employee, Tom Wahapango Kingi, of Paroa, near Whakatane, on December 3 last in the Magistrate’s Court at Whakatane for £137 and costs.

The action was brought by Norman William Carter and the claim was for damage to plaintiff’s motor car, held by the Court to have been caused by defendant’s negligent driving of a truck. He had previously been fined £25 for being drunk in charge of the vehicle. A fortnight after the civil hearing, Kingi was adjudicated bankrupt on his own petition. In his statement, he said that he had returned to New Zealand in February of last year after five and a half years’ service with the Maori Battalion, and the accident occurred on February 14. Other than a few small interests in native lands in Rotorua, he had no assets. Of his £2OO gratuity and other Army payments, most had been given to his wife, who also owned'the household furniture.

At the adjourned meeting of creditors, held at Whakatane, the Official Assignee, Mr H. B. Reid, commented that in view of the large amount of money received since the accident and bankrupt’s wages of £6 6s a week, also his failure to get in touch with his creditor, he considered bankrupt or his solicitor should meet to discuss the matter with his creditors’ solicitor, otherwise, it might appear the bankruptcy was being used for a purpose not intended.