THE BANKRUPTCY ACT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 65, 18 March 1895, Page 3

THE BANKRUPTCY ACT.

NECESSITY FOR KEEPING BOOKS.

SIX HOURS' IMPRISONMENT.

The Official Assignee (Mr J. Lawson) had informations laid againsb three bankrupts ab the Police Courb to-day, charging them wibh having, during bhe bhree years prior to the dates of thoir bankruptcy,,failed to keep such books of accounb as were usual and proper in bbc businesses carried on by them.

Mr McAlister appeared for the Official Assignee, and obtained an adjournment of two of the cases—againsb James Whitelaw and John Adeane —bill tomorrow, on accounb of bo-day being a holiday.

The case againsb George Wabson Primrose was proceeded wibh. Mr McAlister said the defendant did not intend bo offer any evidence, bub would plead guilby under bhe summary clause of the Act. He would also mention tbe facb that there had been two parbners in bhe firm to which fche accused had belonged, and he himself and tbe Official Assignee were satisfied thab tbe case againsb tbe obher partner would stand in a differenb position to the present case. Mr Primrose had been doing only what might be called the artisan part of the business. When the .firm went bankrupt the books had been found in a lamentable state of confusion. The prosecution quite recognised tbnt although the defendanb was guilty of a technical breach of the Bankruptcy Acb ib was impolitic to summon one -partner without summoning the other, so thab Mr Primrose, the presenb deferidanb, was really more bo bo pitied than blamed. ' If His Worship elected bo take a lenient view of the case the Official Assignee would be quite satisfied to see tbe defendanb treated as lightly as possible.

Mr Bush sentenced the accused bo six hours'imprisonment.