"BASE INGRATITUDE "

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 58, 9 March 1928, Page 11

"BASE INGRATITUDE "

BANKRUPT DISAPPEARS CREDITORS DISPLEASED The disappearance of a bankrupt and what was described as her base ingratitude caused some concern, this morning to. a meeting of creditors. The meeting was one. adjourned,from last October, when Mrs. E. V. Robertson, a confectioner of Ncwtown, having been adjudged a bankrupt, met her creditors, her debts amounting to £191. At to-day's meeting tho Official Assignco (Mr. S. Tansle; ) said that all communications addressed to tho bankrupt had come back through the Dead Lottcr Office. Where sho Was now ho could not say. The police wero looking for her on a charge of false pretences, but did not hold out, much hope of finding her in the Lomiuion, it boing thought that she had gone to Australia. If the latter was the case, tho police would not go to the expenso of bringing her back unless the creditors wero prepared-to foot the bilh A Creditor: "There is a different tariff for each town in Australia. To ■bring a bankrupt back from Sydney costs about £50, but. if they get as far as Perth it costs £90." . The Official Assignee: "The last one wo brought back from Australia cost us £48." '-.."• Giving a resume of the circumstances surrounding- tho previous meeting of creditors one of the creditors present said that they had then taken a very leuiont view of tho case. Tho bankrupt had stated that with £30 more credit she could pull through. Sho had denied having any liabilities except those disclosed, and said that she was receiving £3 10s a week as maintenance. She had also agreed to give a bill of salo over tho stock. "Everything, looked quite good, and the required goods and credit were supplied.' But two- days later 'someone elso was in tho shop and tho bankrupt had . disappeared.. What is more, it was then discovered that nine months previously sho had giveL a bill of.sale over the stock." "It was. a particularly dirty fraud practised-on mon who wero assembled to give her a chance," docl.arpd another creditor, who suggested that tho Official ■Assignee should writo.to tho police emphasising what a,eon.tomptiblo fraud it was and asking thchi to sustain their search. ■'.-..- . This Mr. Tansley said he would do. Discussion then took placo on tho advisability or otherwise of bringing tho bankrupt back from Australia if she had gone there. It was said that sho had not booked any passage under her own name/but as no passport was needed for Australia she Could'easily havogot away under an assumed namo. X ' "I wonder how-many absconding debtors arc in Australia?" queried a creditor.. •-. ' . ,' : - ■.''..,• ■ ' . ■' ' ;; "I know of several," said tho Official 'Assignee: ': "Tho trouble is' wo don't know they .arc .going until they have gono or are about to' sail. You can stand and .watch, them go on board, but they can snap their fingdrs at you; yoli cannot stop them unless you havo a warrant, and they won't hold up the ■boat whilo you:go and got one." Somo amendment to1 tho Act was suggested as being necessary. • "Short' of treason -or ;murder, tho polico would riot bring nor ■ back from Australia'on their own'initiative," com-' monted Mr. Scott. ''Sho" could bo arrested if located, in New Zealand for falso pretences or for con,tompt for not •having appeared at tho meeting.'' The meeting was finally adjourned sine die, tho Official Assignoo saying that if ho know anything about the whoroabouts of the bankrupt ho wouM immediately let tho creditors know and action' could 'liotrtkcm ;'■'■ •;-•'■ : '•;.'.••