BUSINESS TROUBLES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 126, 25 February 1928, Page 26

BUSINESS TROUBLES

MOTOR TRUCK WHICH DEVOURED BENZINE BALANCE-SHEET DEMANDED A motor-truck which "devoured petrol and oil” was blamed by David Birrell, a local drainlayer, as the cause of his bankruptcy. The Official Assignee (Mr. 8. Tansley) presided at tile first meeting of creditors yesterday, and there were also present: Bankrupt, and Messrs. A. C. Blair (Wellington Drain Pipe Co.), C. L. Petley, and G. F. Lenzini (Lodge, Tutanekai). Bankrupt, in his sworn statement, explained that he had been in business as a drainlayer about tour years up to April, 1926. lie bought a small motortruck, which he used in bis business, for which he paid <£6o in two instalments. He attributed his bankruptcy to the purchase of this truck. He had paid out in wages on an average £l3 pier week, and mid drawn for himself £7 or £8 a week. He had a family of six children, four of whom were dependent upon him. He had been compelled to file owing to two judgment summonses having been obtained against him. The amount owing to unsecured creditors was shown as £366 Ils. Id., while the only asset was tools of trade, valued at £3O, leaving a deficiency of £336 14s. 4d. The principal creditors were: Wellington Drain Pipe Co., £247; Gasco Pipe Co., £55 135.; Chote. .£lB 18s. 8<1.; L. Petlev, £7 Is.; J. Duthie, £7 9s. 9d.; Lodge, Tutanekai (rent), £lB. Mr. A. C. Blair (Wellington Drain Pipe Company) said that the bankrupt had obtained £353 worth of pipes in less than six months, and yet had very little to show for it. Bankrupt: I have done my best. Mr. Blair: Then all I can say is that it was a very bad best. The Official Assignee said that bankrupt’s bank book showed that he had paid in £ll5O for the six months from 'September, 1926, to March 31, 1927. He could not say what had been paid out in. that time. Pakapoo. Mr. Blair: How often did you visit the Chinamen’s places to purchase pakapoo tickets ? Bankrupt: I did go along occasionally at night and play pakapoo. The Official Assignee: How much did it cost you? Bankrupt: About £1 a week. Mr. Blair: Did you ever have any wins?—'‘Occasionally.’’ Did it not reach such a pass that you had to give the Chinaman cheques? —"Yes, I gave cheques on two occasions.” Mr. Blair: Y'es, and the cheques were dishonoured. Proceeding, Mr. Blair said that bankrupt had not acted as an honest plan. He had absolutely ignored the letters his firm ha 1 written to him.

Bankrupt: You were very hard, Mr. Blair. Mr. Blair: If I was hard, I would like to see a soft man. The Official Assignee: Yes. I wonder you did not stop his credit sooner. Bankrupt: Everyone who knows me knows that I have always been a hardworking man. I like a glass of beer, but often go for months without touching drink. I have done my best. In answer to further questions, bankrupt repeated that fie traced his troubles to the purchase of the motor-truck, "which ate up nearly four gallons of petrol a dny and was frequently in the garage for repays.” Mr. Blair considered that bankrupt should be called upon to supply a statement of his receipts and expenditure from April, 1926. Bankrupt: That is a hard proposition for me. I am not a very good scholar. Mr. Blair: You are a good enough scholar to live at somebody else’s expense. , , , The Official Assignee said he would order the bankrupt to supply a statement of hi? receipts and expenditure from April, 1926, and submit this to Mr. Blair. . The meeting was adjourned sine die.