IN BANKRUPTCY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 303, 22 December 1926, Page 8

IN BANKRUPTCY.

i TRINITY OF OCCUPATIONS. j BUILDER, FARMER AND STOREMAN. j -"He appears to be another-of those ■ incurable optimists," said the Official Assignee (Mr. G. M. Morris) when Frederick Charles Thompson, a builder, now of Henderson, but. late of Kohimarama and Taupaki, met his creditors this morning. The bankrupt's statement showed that his total debts amounted to £090 11/2, while his assets were nil. He commenced operations in the building 'raie at KoLiniarama as a journeyman carpenter, prior to which he was a land salesman. For 20 years, he stated, he had been interested in the building trade. He had exchanged .'. farm - at Kohimarama for one at .Taupaki, in which he thought that his equity was £1200. In answer to the Official Assignee, bankrupt said that he now realised that that-equity was only worth £600. He attributed his failure to the fact that the farm was not sufficiently productive, although he admitted that he had had no previous experience in farming. In the endeavour to retrieve his position he went buildingcontracting. After further examination, bankrupt, in answer to the Official Assignee, said that he had never considered' calling his creditors together previously. The Official Assignee: You are a most particular optimist. In answer to further questions, Thompson said he had worked on wages when he had found that he was "up against it." He had had to give up carpentering on account of his health. He then came into town and took up a position as storeman at £5 5/ a week. He I was a married man with five children, and, had to keep his eldest son, who was now in ill-health. Two of his "children were apprenticed to trades, earning 15/ a week each, and he had to keep the others. He could not offer his creditors anything, but he certainly thought that jhe had been honest with them. A Creditor: I can certainly say that • Mr. Thompson has kept us well informed as to his position. J Another creditor intimated that he did i not hold with that view and put bankj nipt through a lengthy cross-examina-i tion, at the conclusion of which., on his i motion, it was decided to oppose bank- : rupt's discharge till he had made some ■ effort to meet his liabilities. ! Bankrupt: I will apply for my-dis-charge when I can meet my debts.