A BANKRUPT LABORER.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1922, Page 2

A BANKRUPT LABORER.

SHA'REMILKING and stock DEALING. RETURNED SOLDIER’S DIFFICULTIES. The meeting of the creditors in the bankrup-t estate of Arthur Douglas Coombe, laborer, of Oaonui, called for yesterday afternoon, lapsed for want of a quorum. The statement of bankrupt’*! assets and liabilities showed unsecured creditors for £164 3s 4d, made up as follows: Farmers’ Co-op. Association, Opunake, £32 13s fid; Hughson, Ltd., Rahotu, £7 5s 6d; Crofskey Opunake, £7 8s 6d; N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency, Co., Ltd., Opunake, £4O; H. M. Bartie, Opunake, £11; E. M. Reynolds, Oaonui, £4O; J. McLeod, Oaonui, £3; J. B. McEwan and Co., New Plymoutli, £lB 10s; and C. A. Trotter, Opunake, £4 6s. There were no assets. Bankrupt submitted a written statement, which said that in the year 1920 he was working for Mr. H. M. Bartie, of Oaonui, getting on an average £3 per week for the twelve months. Then he was out of work for five months as the result of a wound received in the leg while at the war. When this got better he went.on sharemilking for Mr. J. Barrett, Oaonui, milking from forty to fifty cows. He had to find everything in the place except the stock. He was getting 40 per cent, of the milk cheques, half pigs and half calves. He worked there for three months and took about £2O in that time, and was then told he would have to get. out. The statement continued that bankrupt had expected to get about £3O a month at least. He left the place, selling everything, but lost money owing to the decline in values. He was out of work for four months and subsequently went to Warea on a contract job stumping, at which he had just made “tucker.” Later he could not find further work, but eventually obtained a temporary place with Mr. R. Julian at £1 a week and keep, until he could get something else. He had not been able in the meantime to obtain anything else to do, and, as all his erditors were pushing him, he had filed. Bankrupt, examined under oath by the Deputy Official Assignee (Mr. J. S. S. Medley), said he was a single man and had been to the war, where he was wounded. He returned to New Zealand in 1920. His small takings when sharemilking were due to the ‘lack of feed on the farm and the poorness of the cows. He had been told to get out, but had intended to go in any case. It was while there that he had contracted the debts. He had also had a small place of five acres given him for the grazing for a few months. He had bought four head of cattle and two mares from the Loan and Mercantile Co., selling them again when he gave up the place. He had lost a lot when he had sold. His dealings in stock left him with a loss of about £lOO. the stock going through his hands numbering about 15. He had not lost anything on races since 1920, and he was a non-drinker. His age was 25 and he was not insured. His father had assisted him, but would not give him anything more. No action was taken.