"A CONTRACTOR."

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 115, 18 May 1927, Page 21

"A CONTRACTOR."

'HE CONTRACTED DEBTS.

OVER A HUNDRED CREDITORS.

DEALER IN SCRAP METAL

ißy Telegraph.—Preys Assucia'.ion.l this day. / A inert in- Hi" creditors in the bankrupt e.-tate of .John Harold William JTnpp, scrap metal dealer, lapsed for the want of a quorum. The amount owing to unsecured creditors i? £123 16/."), and the assets are £20. TJio creditors are domiciled in Wellington, "Wiingnnui, Palmers ton North, Kapler, Shannon, Kimbolton, Nelson, Fcilding. Elthnm, Hastings, Gisborne, Jfew i'lyn-uith, Hawera, Midhurst, Inglewood. Opiinakc, Dannevirke, Waipukjirau, Stratford, Waitara and Okaiawa, and comprise bakers, carriers, butchers, doctors, motor engineers and garage proprietors, farmers, grocers, a land agent, a glazier, an outfitter, a wine merchant, an ironmonger, a furnisher, a draper and a blacksmith. Bankrupt, in his statement, said he Teas a married man with three young children. Three and a-half years ago he wa9 living at Hawera, labouring and paying his way. Then he commenced dealing in scrap jnetal, sometimes doing well, and sometimes badly. He had the use of a car and hfc bought a used one for £45, payjug a cash deposit of £10, and another instalment of £10. The car broke down and he let it go. After hiring another, he bought a car for £140, on which he paid £30 in all. His weekly expenses were about £8 10/. His wife was in bad health, and he had paid a lot of money for doctors. He had kept a bank account einee June last, and paid in about £673, keeping out only wages and current expenses. He worked at his business in Palmerston, New Plymouth, and Wangaaui. He lost money on splitting and telling firewood at Palmerston. He bought three locomotives at Napier, and also an acetone plant. He employed labour, but lost on this effort. He bought three other locomotives at Wanganui, but could not finish the job, •s the Government took away the jacks which he thought part of the purchase. Hβ afterwards came to Wellington. He bad kept no books and knew nothing of accountancy. Some weeks ago he sold bis furniture, which realised £4 or £5. The Assignee asked why he did not file somewhere where the creditors could get hold of him. Bankrupt said he came to Wellington on account of his wife's health. He was working for his brother, who was dealing, and was receiving 16/. The Assignee: You style yourself a contractor. You have certainly contracted debts. I think you have gone systematically about it. You have 99 creditors, and I think there are another 20 who will prove. The whole thing is most unsatisfactory, and I think you ehould go before the Crown Prosecutor.' The meeting was adjourned sine die.