AN ANGRY OFFICIAL

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 2631, 5 August 1908, Page 6

AN ANGRY OFFICIAL

THE JEWISH OATH AGAIN. MR. SIMPSON AND THE PRESS. A few weeks ago, a paragraph appeared in The Dominion informing the public that tho Official Assignee (Mr. A. Simpson) had refused permission to a Jew to take the oath- in the customary and legal way, and the same evening, Mr. F. E. Baume, M.P., asked a question in the House of Representatives, strongly resenting this treatment of his co-religionists. The Official Assignee, ifc appears, has not forgotten the incident, for, at a meeting of creditors yesterday, ho mentioned the matter to the reporter who wrote tho paragraph. It was just prior to the meeting and, those present were waiting for a quorum. , "You wrote that local about that meeting of tho creditors of Maurice Ziman?" ho asked in as calm si manner as Ho could command. ...

",Yes," replied tho pressman, anticipating developments. "You had no business to write about tho oath. You can't do as you like here I" Mr. Simpson insisted, getting warmer. > "That is a matter for discussion with the Editor," replied tho reporter. "It does not affect me personally." "Yes, it does," replied Mr. Simpson, with considerable feeling. "It's between you and mo. I won't have this sort of thing and in future you must not ,do it. You must simply tako tho ' meeting and nothing else. You've no right hero at all; you're only hero on sufferance."

"You must seo tho Editor," repeated tho representative of Thf, Dominion. Up to yesterday, the Assignee had left the statement of assets and liabilities for tho reporters to copy, but after the above conversation he put the papers under his arm and stalked out of tho room. v

He returned in a few minutes to commence tho meeting. The bankrupt' was duly ,sworn, and the Assignee proceeded to examine him as to the cause of his failure. Only one creditor was present. ' Mr. Simpson had barely commenced his examination of the bankrupt, when the latter's solicitor, Mr. Wilford, said: "May I look at your copy of tho Bankruptcy Act?" - Mr. Simpson: " Yes." The Assignee was allowed to proceed in po'aco for a minute or two, when Mr. Wilford remarked that under. -Subsection 7 of Section 95 of tho Act,'unless a quorum was present, the meeting would have to bo adjourned. Tho Assignee: I have power to take evidence myself. ' . ' , ■

Mr. Wilford: Not at a publje meeting. You will liavo to adjourn tho meeting at once. The Assignee: It has never been done.here. Mr. Wilford: I take it' that you can do it, but not at a public meeting before tlie reporters. ' The Assignee then examined the clause. "Yes," ho said, "that's pretty plain, but my predecessor, Mr. Ashcroft,. always took the statement down, Tho meeting is adjourned." Mr, Wilford: Is it adjourned sine die or to a certain date? You must do one thing or the other. .... , The Assignee: The meeting' is adjourned sine die. The reporters then withdrew.