RE HARPER AND CO.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8557, 10 August 1893, Page 3

RE HARPER AND CO.

A special meeting of creditors in the estate of Harper and Co. was held yesterday afternoon at the Government Buildings. There was a good attendance of representatives of creditors. The Official Assignee, Mr 6. L. Greenwood, in* opening the meeting, said s— Before going into the business may mention that I am advised that this is a private meeting strictly, and that considering the nature of the business likely to be brought forward it would be advisable to regard it as such. If there ore any representative of the papers present I would ask them to withdraw. For the same reason those who are not proved creditors, or who are not the legal representatives of proved creditors have no right to be present. If there are any, therefore, who hive no legal right t:> be present I would ask them to kindly withdraw. Mr Joynt—May I ask whether the representatives of the debtor may be present. The Official Assignee—Certainly. Mr Wilding—ls there any power to exclude the representatives of tne Press? Is it not » public meeting ? j

Official Assignee—Certainly there is if it is not a public meeting. Mr Wilding—lf the representatives of the Press assert their right to be present, can you exclude them 1

The Official .Assignee—Not if it is a public meeting; but I have been advised upon this point that it is not a public meeting. Mr Wilding—lt has been pointed out to mc that we do not know what we are calletl here for. Ths circular convening this meeting is not in accordance with the Act, and I therefore fail to see how any legal business can be transacted here. The schedule of the Act requires that the business shall be stated, and the business is not stated.

The Official Assignee—lf you look at another portion of the Act—section S4Mr Wilding—No, that does not require it.

The Official Assignee—l was obliged to call the meeting in the manner I did. Mr Wilding—Form No. 12 of the rule requires that, the business shall be stated. No business has been stated on the circular which has been sent out; at oil events not on the one that I hold.

The Official Assignee—lt does not seem, to mc that the form requires that the business shall be stated. I do not- think it is essential. In this case I will read the requisition on which I called the meeting, the business for which I was unable to define, because it was not stated in the requisition itself. I notice that the representatives of the Press are still present, and I would like to ask whether they decline to comply with my ruling. . A representative of the Press said —The reporters are quite willing to retire if you rule that they cannot stay. Mr Wilding has raised the point as to whether it is a public meeting or not, and the reporters ore waiting for your decision before withdrawing. The Official Assignee—l must rule that this is a private meeting, and must ask you to withdraw.

The reporters then retired.