A DEBTOR'S STATEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 264, 7 November 1929, Page 8

A DEBTOR'S STATEMENT.

OBJECTION BY COUNSEL

« HIGHLY LIBELLOUS."

SEQUEL TO DAIRYMAN'S FAILURE

An unusual position arose to-day at a meeting*" of the creditors, of William Henry Johns, dairyman, of Fourth Avenue, Kiiigsland, Mr. Mackay, counsel for the petitioning creditor, objecting to' bankrupt's statement being read, on the ground that it was highly libellous. The Official Assignee (Mr. A. W. Watters) suggested that it should be read, but that publicity should be given to Mr. Mackay's statements in reply. Debtor's financial schedule showed claims of unsecured creditors amounting to £110 16/3, this being the total of" debts. Secured creditors' claims amounted to £170, the value of securities beinf given as £548. Assets were returned as £394 15/, there being a nominal surplus of £277 18/9. In a written statement Johns (for wliom Mr. Good appeared) said he leased a house and land last May, and agreed to take from the vendor all the milk he required which was not produced by his own cows. Legal action over a truck which he obtained from the same vendor caused added expense, and he was not able to pay for the mi IK. He alleged that he was not getting credit for payments he had made. Had he been able to purchase elsewhere'lie would probably have been able to carry on. Mr. Mackay said a suggestion of dishonesty had been made. . This was most strongly denied. Debtor had bought a good business and made a hopeless mess of it. Replying to the assignee, debtor said lie had had no previous experience of the milk trade. He recently went to the Old Country, but a certain proposition did not appeal to him, and ho returned to New Zealand. One of the creditors said he knew debtor to be a hard-working man. He was a real trier, and, if given an opportunity to.develop the business, he would do his best. , -". . "I can honestly say that I have not lost one customer through any_ fault of my own," declared debtor. "It is due to

the milk." . , Mr. Mackay: That' is a ridiculous statement: wo have supplied milk to the same customers for ten years. Petitioning creditor, a widow, protested that she had done all she could to help debtor. "Whatever I did he was never satisfied." she said. The case was left \n. the hands _of the Official Assignee, deblor being allowed to carry on the business, and ordered to return weekly statements of his receipts and expenditure.