BANKRUPT COMPANY MANAGER

Evening Star, Issue 23728, 8 November 1940, Page 8

BANKRUPT COMPANY MANAGER

AFTERMATH OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHuioH, November 7. The claim that his bankruptcy resulted from his conviction in the case concerning moneys obtained from H. R, Sellers was made by Gordon Percy Aston, company manager, in a written statement submitted to the Official Assignee (Mr G. W. Brown) at a meeting of his creditors called for this morning. The meeting was adjourned for want of a quorum. The amount owing to unsecured creditors was set out as £332. The assets side of the account showed book debts estimated to produce £227 17s 6d. In his statement Aston claimed that his defence in the trial cost him approximately £I,OOO, as i he under heavy expense at. the time, having to find a large amount for travelling expenses, and money for other things brought about indirectly by the court proceedings. Any valuable instruments used in his experiments, including moving picture apparatus, had since been returned to their overseas owners. He did not own any furniture, as he had always lived while in New Zealand with his mother-in-law. All the household furniture at “ The Hut ” (Nelson) had belonged to Aston personally. This was later seized under a court order for debt. Two outboard motors stored in Christchurch were also seized. During the whole time he was associated with any of the companies he had drawn no •alary. Any money he drew from two electrical companies was in repayment of moneys advanced to them. Both these companies owed him some hundreds of pounds yvliich were not shown on the books. This came about because lie paid the companies’ bills for large amounts with his personal cheques. Much of this money would be traceable. ■ ‘ J cannot agree with the order of the Supreme Court about owing Sellers’s estate some thousands odd nor do 1. agree that the assets seized were entirely mine.” " Knowing full well that receipts for large amounts paid to him in Australian urrency (at his wish) are in existence,” the statement continued, “ all -he hooks and papers in relation to this are held by an overseas-syndicate, and were withheld from- me at the trial; hence my not . putting up any defence In not associating myself with any court order, I do not wish to prejudice ny proceedings which the overseas syndicate may bring in the future. I did '•’ot'own any shares in this syndicate.”’ The overseas syndicate mentioned was assisting for some considerable ■ •• in his ” electro ” experiments, and any books relating to this were the property of the syndicate. The loss on running “ The Hut ” at Nelson was about £I,BOO in two years. This was met by Aston personally. _ His allowance to his wife and family over the last four years would average about £6 a week, plus clothes.