[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HUSBAND AND WIFE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25, 29 July 1911, Page 9

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HUSBAND AND WIFE.

i *j COTJIiT. I '/I DUNISDJX 28th July. ' ' i Some peculiar featums characterised >• 'la, meeting of creditors this afternoon. J ']-ivheii lh'> Jiiat meeting o{ creditors in .■the estate of 'i'liorrtaa Ireland, of Duit< •|ecJiu, wan h?ld. p | Dankuipt'fl statement showed he owed ';jJ3aio 16.- to unsecured creditors. The '■ |<Jiicf of tlKwe was Mrs. Dayina Ireland ' j('oH,nkrupt'» wife), under a judgment of >\the Supreme Court, carrying interest at <6 pei cent.. >J269 10a B6 ; maintenance |<lv« under agreement, £6 IBs Bdj fu- ' Hure maintenance under agreement, £2 * i 12s a month daring the wife's life, estimaid at £450. ana future maintenance ' i under agreement 17s 3d per month until ; Gordon Ireland (tho child) reached the ; age ot sixteen ycaie, estimated at £75. > jTherfl were no aesety. I A written statement filed by bankrupt jwja that in July, 1901, he entered into

a deed of eepanttion with his wife, agreeing to pay her £2 12s a month for her maintenance, and 17s 4d a month for the maintenance of their infant son. It vty the accumulated liability under the dfed that had compelled him to file. Until May, 1906, ho was ablo to make payment as agreed, but from that time onwufds he had never been in a position to do so, and wae only intermittently employed. In June last his wife issued a writ against him from the Supreme Court claiming £207 interest and money due under the agreement of separation, and judgment was shortly afterwards entered against aim for £269 lfts Bd. He had no means of eatisfying the judgment and in view of the possibility of further proceedings had thought the beet course was to file his petition in bankruptcy. Bankrupt, examined by Mr. Moore" eaid he had nothing with which to contribute towarda the maintenance of his wife, During the time he was with the Farmers' Co-opei'ative Association, about sixteen months, he paid his mother £l # a week board, He gave it when he had It, He made a fair offer to his wife, but site would not accept. He offered the child » home five yeare ago. He and his wife separated because they could not live together, and he arranged to contribute towards the support of the child before it was born. He had back debts to pay whto lie was with the Farmers' Co-operative Association. Mr. Moore ; You would sooner have your wife a creditor than your mother? Bankrupt: I had to pay my \vay. Mr. Moore continued thia course of examination, whfcn Mr, Sutherland rose and said he knew the young fellow had been out of work a good time and had assisted him. He objected to seeing him badgered. A man must pay his personal living, and he (the .speaker) protested against this course of examination. In fairness, had anyone the right to "rub it in" like thk? . After further questioning, Mr. Moore eaid he . did not think any advantage would be gained by continuing the examination. Two of the creditors were there at the , instigation of the bankrupt practically. (Adaffle had taken somo exception to Mr. Moore's examination, previously.) A case similar to, this one had arieen in Wellington at the beginning of this month, and it appeared to him (Mr. Moore) that bankrupt in the present case had gone considerably out of his way to abuse the procedure of the bankruptcy court so as to do his wife out of any money he might make later on. He was going out of hie way to cancel not only his present liability to his wife, but his future liability also. •The Assignee said it looked like taking refuge under the Bankruptcy Act to settle a dispute between fiusband and wife. He did apt think it necessary to impart any, feeling into the matter. It Was a question && to what should be done. No resolution could bo passed' favourable to the wife because ehe had not the voting power, so the only thing Was to adjourn the meeting sine die. Mr. Adams : We .propose to apply for a discharge at an early opportunity. The meeting then adjourned sine die.