“CREDITORS TO BLAME”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 111, 1 August 1927, Page 1

“CREDITORS TO BLAME”

JUDGE’S HOMILY CARELESS METHODS DEPLORED Stating that Henry Charles Jenks, who had been found guilty on two counts of breaches of the Bankruptcy Act, had been only a small trader, and had been more of a bungler than guilty of dishonesty, Mr. Beattie (instructed by Mr. Ray), asked that lenient treatment be meted but, when he appeared for sentence before Mr. Justice Stringer in the Supreme Court this morning. His Honour said the prisoner had carried on business for about eight months and had lost £4OO. Mr. Beattie: A large proportion of that went in medical expenses. His Honour said he could not help thinking that the creditors themselves were largely responsible for the bankruptcy, for the reasons that there seemed- to be no proper investigation made before the prisoner was given credit. He started out with no knowledge of business and a capital of £6O, and seemed to have had no difficulty in receiving credit. PRISONER NOT DISHONEST “It would be very satisfactory,” said His Honour, “if one could think that the creditors had to bear the losses themselves, but they will collect it by a tax in the nature of a higher price on their goods.” He was satisfied that the prisoner had not been dishonest in any way, and it was not a case in which he could inflict punishment. Had any of the creditors taken a little trouble they could have seen that the prisoner was not a business man, and that he was not in a position to carry on. Under the circumstances he would bo ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called on.