PRIMITIVE BOOKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 490, 20 October 1928, Page 12

PRIMITIVE BOOKS

BANKRUPT BUTCHER CREDITORS BLAME DRINK Thomas W. Smith, of Onehunga, a bankrupt pork butcher, was taken to task by his creditors yesterday when they alleged that he had been drinking excessively. Smith denied this. He asserted that he had paid due attention to his business, but three creditors gave it as their opinion that the bankrupt drank too much. Added to this was the description of Smith’s books by the official assignee, Mr. G. N. Morris, who said they were primitive.' It was impossible to find out exactly how much Smith took out from the business. After discussion and questioning, the assignee indicated that discharge would be opposed until payment was made. The creditors remained to investigate bankrupt’s affairs with the assignee in committee. Bankrupt gave his assets at £1,186. his debts at £630, leaving a nominal surplus of £556. He started business In Onehunga in 1922 and did well until opposition affected him. He put in a refrigerating plant, a bakehouse and carried out extensions. Later, he opened a branch in Papakura, but was pressed to file. He had taken out a second mortgage of £3OO on the Onehunga business and had borrowed £3OO to start at Papakura. Questioning revealed that Smith had been going back steadily.