FOR EIGHT YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 151, 29 June 1927, Page 10

FOR EIGHT YEARS.

FAMILY SPENDS £1 A WEEK.

ENDS IN BANKRUPTCY COURT.

STORY OF HARD STRUGGLE.

,'By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, this dar.

A story of hardship was told in the Bankruptcy Court yesterday, before the deputy official assignee (Mr. V. H. Sanson), by Robert Riddle, farmer, of Moerangi, near Kawhia.

Bankrupt's debts to unsecured creditors were set down at £233 7/8, and debts to secured creditors at £1176 10/6. The assets, which were subject to certain mortgages, were assessed at £1535 10/, leaving a nominal surplus of £125 11/10.

Riddle said he took up a busli section from the Government in the Moeraiipi block in 1915, and his wife and family of five joined him there four years later. He had a hard struggle to eke out an existence, and the amount spent in cash by him and his family over a period of eight years averaged £1 a week. Any other moneys received went in rent and interest. The original annual rental of the property was £70, but the Deteriorated Lands Commission had recently reduced the rent to £18. A road to the block was promised when the settlers entered, but it had not yet been made. He acknowledged that his creditors had been generous to him, and said he had filed because he was pressed. ilr. W. Vernon, one of the creditors, said he would like to see everything wiped off the slate, and bankrupt given a fresh staut.

Mr. Moore, agent for the Public Trustee, concurred in this statement.

Mr. Sanson did not think the creditors had much prospect of getting anything from the estate. He expressed astonishment that bankrupt and his family should have been able to exist under the conditions described.

As there was not a quorum present no action was taken.