DEBTOR’S UNENVIABLE PLIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 21835, 26 September 1934, Page 14

DEBTOR’S UNENVIABLE PLIGHT

LETTER TO CREDITOR CLOTHES SOUGHT FOR COURT APPEARANCE Creditors Lave participated in many peculiar struggles to extract payment from debtors, and in these difficult times they can relate many trying experiences, but the reply received from a relief worker by a local firm recently must be classed as unique amongst all documents of its kind. The unfortunate debtor set out to prove conclusively, in the most forceful terms, that he was not in a position to pay, and the picture which he painted, whilst somewhat tragic in reality, contained a flavour of irresistible humour. The letter received by the local firm, when pressing for payment of an outstanding account, was •a follows;

“ Dear Sirs, —I am, this clay, in receipt of your letter, dated August 10. This letter should nave been received by August 11, but, owing to its having been directed to Glenraore instead of to Glenore, it has been to Auckland, Kingsland, Upper Symond street, and Kokonga. This, however, is by the way. The mistake in addressing the letter is your error. I have noted what you state regarding a payment from mo within eight days, and what > is going to be done with me if I do not send the ‘ stuff ’ along. It is fortunate for me that my delinquency is not punishable by hanging or shooting or of any other means of quickly despatching one, or I should have been a dead man five days ago. “ Surely i you jokers ’ have enough under your hats to know that it is of no use to flog a dead horse. When I have not the money with which to pay, how the can 1 pay ? Place yourself in my position: On the ‘ dole,’ receiving a maximum of 30s a week, out of which has to be paid 7s 6d for rent, leaving 22s 6d to provide food and clothes for myself, a wife, and two hoys. Could you do it, and find yourself left with a surplus? I think not. 1 question very seriously if the performer in the miracle of | The loaves and the fishes ’ could do 'it, were he here in these times, and have enough left over with which to pay past debts. If there is any good purpose served in bringing me before court, fire away and issue a judgment summons, but, please send me sufficient to pay my fare, plus enough for two meals, and, I would deem it a personal favour if you will please send me some clothes to appear in—trousers size 6 or 7, with a coat to match.” The writer then goes on to develop an even more effective climax. He asks whether there is any possibility of securing employment with his creditor so that he could pay a few shillings a week until the amount owing was liquidated. He felt sure that he could give satisfaction as an employee. He claimed to be a good worker, particularly at engineering or any job connected with sawmilling. “If you will he good enough,” he says, “to use your influence in getting employment for me at a wage sufficiently remunerative ifl slow; fits ia iiav® fee brea4

line, I shall feel indebted to you, for 1 wi}l thus be afforded an opportunity of paying. I should like very much to get away from here into a decent sort of a job. So long as .1 am here it is an absolute impossibility for me to pay off past debts, for there are no prospects but the ‘ dole ’ ad infinitum.’’