TRADE UNION SECRETARY BANKRUPT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1814, 29 July 1913, Page 4

TRADE UNION SECRETARY BANKRUPT.

."I CAN MAKE NO OFFER." (B,y Telegraph.—Presa Association.) Audkland, July 28. James Collet, lato secretary to th# Waterside Workers' Union, has filed 'a petition in bankruptcy, and a meeting of creditors was held to-day. In a statement made to the Official Assignee, Collet said: "I have filed a petition in bankruptcy owing to the fact that I am unable to pay my debts, and that two writs of sale have been issued against me in connection with two unsatisfied judgments obtained against mo in the Supremo Court at' Auckland a few weeks ago for £97 13s. nnd. .£72 respectively. I have no means of paying these judgments or tho costs, ,£73 18sl 5d., claimed by my solicitors over these cases, and I can make no offer. lam a wharf labourer, 40 years of age, and it takes me all my time to earn enough to pay for food and clothing for myself and those dependent on mo.' Judgment against Collett was obtained by two men who wero fined by tho union, and wero then prevented from obtaining work as watcrsiders because of alleged irregularity in obtaining employment. Collet was secretary of tho union at the time, and judgment went against him in the Supreme Court for tho sums mentioned- , .. , Bankrupt in answer to a question, admitted that ho did not wish to see _ the two men paid tlio amount of the judgment, and only filed in order to escape the payments. This was the reason, also, why ho made no effort to got the union to accept liability when ho was served With writs. He did not mention tho matter to anyono on tho union executive. At this stage tho meeting was adjourned sine die.