BANKRUPT FARMER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 196, 20 August 1931, Page 3

BANKRUPT FARMER.

CASTIGATED BY ASSIGNEE. "I DON'T BELIEVE ONE STATEMENT." CASE FOR CROWN SOLICITOR? (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAWERA, this dar. "Apart from any resolution that creditors may. pass, I feel it my duty to refer this matter to the Crown Solicitor," said Mr. C. 0. Pratt, Official Assignee at Hawera, at a meeting of creditors in the bankrupt' estate of Clement Rice Beetham, farmer, of Matapu. "I don't believe one statement of yours as to the cause of your bankruptcy," said the Assignee. "You owe £3000 and flo not explain why. You had a good opportunity at Matapu. You have borrowed money all over the country and falsely represented the position to those who lent you money. It is men like you that lower the commercial morality of the Dominion. There are some things in your favour — you are kind to your wife and neither drink nor smoke." The deficiency was shown as £3235, all owing to unsecured creditors. Bankrupt's statement detailed his farming ventures. His lease at Matapu, he stated, was renewed to his wife, but she had had to surrender it. "Is it a fact that you went to Stratford and attempted to buy a farm on a £500 deposit?" asked Mr. Pratt. Bankrupt: No. "Don't you think you had considerable cheek in even thinking of starting farming again?" Mr. Pratt continued. "In common fairness to bankrupt I don't think his attempt to secure another farm is against him," eaid his solicitor. "He has a wife and six children to support, and his only chance was to get back on to a farm." A creditor who wrote regretting nie inability ..to attend said bankrupt's failure could only be attributed to extravagant muddling. The meeting was adjourned.