CLERK'S FAILURE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18416, 24 June 1925, Page 5

CLERK'S FAILURE.

CREDITORS' MEETING LAPSES. A meeting of creditors which waa to have been held yesterday before the Official Assignee, Mr A. W. "Waiters, in the bankrupt estate of Peter James Innes, clerk, of Sydenham, lapsed for want of a quorum. The chief •unsecured creditor was George Lumb, to whom £lB 16s 6d was owing. The total liabilities were £SO 16s lOd, andl the assets were' nil. Bankrupt, in his statement, said be came to Chfistchurch in 1920 to look for work. Ho was engaged on casual labouring work till January, 1924, when he obtained stea-dy employment at 10s a week. _An his place of employment was at Kaiapoi, he had to travel backward; and forwards daily, the fares costing 8s a week. During the time he was on casual employment his wages averaged about 30s a week, and as he found great difficulty in keeping Izimfifelf, his wife and four children, he gave up his house. Later eome relatives c&me to Cnristchurch to live, and with them he had shared a house. However, the relatives haxi left, and bankrupt had to continue paying a rent of 37s 6d a week on the house. Through reducing back debts he was, unable to keep his rent u» to date, and had been sued for the amount of the arrears. In April he had obtained a house at a rental of 25s a week, and had lived, in it up till the presenttime. For the past two years he had paid) cash for groceries and household requirements, but ho had not sufficient money to pay oft his back debts. He did not drink to excess nor gamble. A warrant ,of commitment h4d been issued against him, and, as_ hd had been unable to pay his debts, he boen compelled to file a petition in bankruptcy.