LAST YEAR'S BANKRUPTCIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 78, 3 April 1926, Page 12

LAST YEAR'S BANKRUPTCIES.

FEWER THAN PREVIOUS YEAR'S. FARMERS HEAD THE LIST. The number of persons adjudged bankrupt during the year ended 31st December, 1925, was 653, which compares -with 670 in 1924, 674 in 1923, and 695 in 1922, according to the abstract of figures for March. Debtors' petitions filed during 1925 numbered 535, while adjudications were made on creditors' petitions in 118 cases. The farming community was again well represented with 154 cases, while general labourers accounted for ' 100 failures. The numbers of the principal occupations affected are given below figures in parentheses): Farmers, 143 (178); labourers, 100 (81); bush sawmillers, 17 (6); builders, 25 (22) : contractors (undefined), 12 (17); carpenters, 17 (0) ; taxi drivers, 20 (4); carriers, 12 (12); storekeepers (undefined), 20 (22); butchers, 15 (18): bakers, 10 (9); salesmen, 10 (14); married women, 10 (6). A classification of the year's bankruptcies according to the amount of li'ablities as set out in the statements iiled is as follows (1024 figures in parentheses): Under £50, 19 (23); £50 to 1100, 170 (148); £250 to £500, 135 (102); £500 to £1000, 120 (145); £1000 to £2000, 91 (80) ; £2000 to £5000, 49 (44) ; over £5000, 23 (22). Assets as per statements filed (exclusive of amount secured to creditors) amounted to £235.377 (£279,001); amounts secured to creditors, £590,274 (£695,898) ; liabilities as per statements filed, £535,320 (£581,527). Assets realised by the assignees totalled £98,648 (£118.040); while the amount of debts proved was £471,028 (£703,995). It should be noted that the above figures do not include private assignments and arrangements with creditors.