INDIGNANT CREDITORS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1917, Page 7

INDIGNANT CREDITORS.

BANKRUPT'S UNUSUAL ATTITUDE.

. Searching cross-exammation of bankrupt, regarding bis affairs marked the first meeting, in Auckland last week, of. creditors 'in the 'bankrupt, estate of Joseph Waclmer, lately carrying, on business in Queen street, Auckland, as a fancy goods dealer. Mr, SV,&. Fisher, official 'assignee,, presided, and Mr. R. W. M'Connell represented -creditors for £430. The bankrupt in his schedule set down his liabilities at £4Bl 0s 9d, and assets, nil: , • ••

. Examined by the Official {Assignee, .bankrupt stated that when ibe came to New Zealand -from New South Wales he had, only about r£s, bufe his-wife bad money. - ■...,,- ,; -.

;.'.■ Mr-. 'Fisher: In- which- bank did" she keep decline to answer. Continuing, bankrupt stated that in 1303 his wife opened a-fancy goods Bhop in Wellington. He Jiad nothing to do with that business. In 1908 he and his wife came to Auckland and earned on business separately, mis wifo Bought and sold houses, and he carried on bus* ness in two shops in Queen street as a fancy goods dealer. He was so unwell when he gave up business in April last that all his records and books were lost or destroyed. He thought that his.account books, with receipts and invoices, were inadvertently put into a rubbish tin and taken to the destructor. The books included his bank pass book and chequo blocks. The goods he "stocked were purchased in his name.

Mr. Fisher: Who financed you when you opened the shops?— Nobody. Banknipt then qualified his statement by saying that his wife had lent him a sum of over £SOO, A few months before he closed his business he had a sum of over £SOO to his credit in the Post Office Savings Ba.ik. This was his own money. He used it to pay bills, rates, and rent. At this time he owed his wife about £«00 or £7OO, but he paid no part of the £3OO to her. He now owed he"r over £IOOO.

On the motion, of Mr. Connell, it'was decided: "That action be taken against Mrs. Wachner for tho recovery of moneys owing to the bankrupt estate which are in her possession or subject to her control, and that the time of this action be left'tothe discretion of the Official Assignee, and that in the meantime the Assignee take whatever steps are necessary to protect the interests of the creditors."