BANKRUPT PLUMBER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 190, 1 November 1927, Page 13

BANKRUPT PLUMBER

“CASE OF INCOMPETENCE” EXPENSE OF FURNISHING “It looks to me like a case of incompetence,” said the official assignee, Mr. G. N. Morris, to creditors of Walter Dwen Trigg, a bankrupt plumber, of Mount Albert, who appeared this morning to explain his failure. Bankrupt’s schedule showed £589 owing to unsecured creditors, and £1,207 to secured creditors. The .estimated value of securities was £1,300. His assets totalled £370, consisting of stock £l7, book debts £ll, furniture £250, surplus of securities £92. Bankrupt said he commenced business at Avondale about two and a-half years ago with a capital of £ 60. He attributed his losses to repair bills following several accidents to liis motorcar; to keenness of contract prices in his trade; and to his ill-health which prevented him from working for six months out of the last year. Further, he omitted to insure one of his workmen who met with an accident. In consequence he had to pay his wages for four months. “WORKING FOR WAGES” Under examination Trigg said he had been practically working on wages during the past 12 months, and had kept no books. Before he set up on his own he was working on wages for another man. He had only “slight experience” of estimating and book-keeping. His house cost £1,250 and was encumbered to the extent of £1,237. His car cost him an average of 30s a week over a period ot two years through accidents and for repairs when the vehicle was stolen and damaged. Trigg said that when he took out his first balance sheet about a vear ago he found he was £2OO down. He ceased to ask for credit after that revelation and all his debts were at least 12 months old. . _ “Do you think you were justified in spending all the money you did on furnishings when you knew you were £2OO down?” asked Mr. Morns. "No, I should not have done it, replied bankrupt. , ■ I don’t think this man’s discharge should be facilitated,” said Mr- Morris. "Ho is one of those people x\ho should onlv work on wages.” t Bankrupt’s solicitor, Mr. O Donnell; informed creditors that Trigg s father had offered to pay £l5O cash YV estate providing that his son were al lowed to keep his furniture with the exception of the piano, valued at £l3O. This offer was unanimously accepted, and at the same time creditors decided that Trigg’s discharge should not be facilitated.