DOCTOR’S BANKRUPTCY

Evening Star, Issue 23833, 13 March 1941, Page 3

DOCTOR’S BANKRUPTCY

MEETING Of CREDITORS ADJOURNED FOR THREE MONTHS ' A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Thomas Ewart Ashley, medical practitioner, of Tokanui, was held in the office of the official assignee yesterday afternoon, the assignee (Mr J. M. Adam) presiding. The bankrupt was represented by Mr I. Mitchell. The secured debts were shown at £B6 18s 6d, and unsecured at £592 6s Bd. Assets were set down at £lB3 9s 6d, leaving a nominal deficiency of £4OB 17s 2d. The principal unsecured creditors were Commissioner of Taxes, £175; A. A. Wilson (Westport) £6O; J. M. Munro (Kurow), £SO; A. P. White (Dunedin), £34; Now Zealand Express Company (Dunedin), £24. Bankrupt said ho inherited £1,500 in the middle of 1936, and that he was assured by the trustees that his insurance policies would then be freed. He went to Waihi as assistant medical officer to the Waihi Hospital Hoard at £2OO a year and a private practice which amounted to about £1 a week, bringing his money to £5 weekly. He left there for Kurow, where he averaged £3 10s a week. He waited for the freeing of his insurance policies and ran into debt. He left a lot of gear with Mr M‘Jvitterick, of the llailway Hotel, Kurow, as security for a £9O debt. This was lost in a fire when the hotel was burned down, and he was unable to claim compensation. Bankrupt said he was married on March 13, 1937. He went to Takaka and was paid £7OO a year. As no house was available he left Takaka to go to Karamea in December, 1937. He was paid approximately £BOO a year and given a free house in Karamea, including a private practice. He paid off back debts, bought furniture, household goods, and a motor ear. Bankrupt said slackness in control of money was admitted here, but not anywhere else. As his wife wished to be closer to her people, who were getting up in years, and because her mother was in ill-health, bankrupt left Karamea and went to Kaitangata in February, 1940. He was unable to agree on the terms of an agreement, and left the Kaitangata Medical Association on July 26, 1940. He carried on in Kaitangata as a private practitioner and averaged £5 a week. From October 10 he made only the money shown in his hook. He was three or four weeks doing nothing. He left Dunedin for the Southland Hospital on December 15 and was paid_ £225 a year and found board and lodging. He left the hospital on January 17, returned to Dunedin, and went to Tokanui on January 21 this year. He was paid £2OO a year, a free house, with private practice. He was still trying to free his policies. Examined by the assignee, bankrupt said that he hoped eventually to pay his creditors. At present he could offer them £1 a week. To Mr D. A. Solomon, who appeared on behalf of one of the creditors, the bankrupt said that if the meeting were adjourned for throe months he would ho in a position to tell the creditors how the practice at Tokanui was progressing. On the motion of the creditors the meeting was adjourned until June 18, the bankrupt to report to the creditors the progress of his practice.