REGULATIONS SPOIL BUSINESS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 11, 7 October 1927, Page 6

REGULATIONS SPOIL BUSINESS

LEVIN CARRIERS FAILURE \ LORRIES SEIZED Palmerston North, October 6. A meeting of creditors of Alary Hemingsley Newman, married woman, of Levin, was held before the Deputy-Offi-cial Assignee (Air. C. E. Dempsey) today. Bankrupt has of late been trading in Levin as the Newman Transport Company, her husband being paid a salary' to act as' manager .and In a personal statement bankrupt said that she began business in December, 1925, with a capital of £9O One lorry was purchased and £5O placed as deposit. Another lorry proved to be necessary, however,’ and another £5O deposit was paid. Owing to the increase in transport work, it became necessary to purchase a larger truck, which was acquired in November. This proved to be the beginning of bankrupt’s downfall as the chassis buckled and cracked. The firm from which it was bought seized the truck, and the turnover' dropped by more than half, and another truck

was seized by the vendor. In June. 1927, all the funds available were used to recommission the third truck, which resumed running until the' first week in August Bankrupt attributed her present position to the traffic regulations, which prevented her (using the largest lorrv over the Faekakariki hill, and also a continuous run of bad luck when she started in bus'iness. Her husband, who was an experienced lorry driver and motor mechanic, agreed to work for her as a driver, mechanic, and working manager, and was paid a weekly wage of £6. Out of his wages, house rent had To be paid, and five children, the eldest of whom was ten vears of age, maintained. At the end of October, 1926, it was discovered that bankrupt’s business could not afford the wages paid fo her husband, which were accordingly reduced to £5 ss. weekly. .-trier bankrupt had been briefly examined bv creditors to-day the meeting was adjourned sine die.