A BUOYANT TONE

Grey River Argus, 15 January 1925, Page 8

A BUOYANT TONE

BANKRUPTCIES IN GREYMOUTH. COMP AR ISON WITH OTHER CENTRES. Ihe fact that there were, only three bankruptcies in Greyinouth during the year 1924 speaks volumes for the stability of this town. It docs more than that. It flouts to the four winds the cry of the pessimist: "This town is dead.” Even allowing for the fact that the minute number of bankruptcies registered last year, was more- than for the year 1923, when only two bankruptcies occurred it must be admitted that the tone ol business in Greymouth is very buoyant. This fact is the more clearly emphasised when a comparison with other centres, outside of the four cities, is made. In Palmerston North, Napier, Gisborne, New Plymouth and Oatmaru, admittedly nearly all larger centres than Grey mouth, the numbers of bankruptcies for the past twelve months were proportionately much greater, the figures for these centres being as follows, with the 1923 returns in parentheses:—Gisborne. 38, (38); Napier 27,- (54); Palmerston North 30, (38) ; New Plymouth 25, (32) ; Oamaru, 24, (27). From the foregoing it will be seen that, with the exception of Gisborne, each of the ■centres named has shown a, decrease in the number of bankruptcy returns. The smaller centres, towns with a similar or lesser population than Greyinouth) afford a comparison of more vital interest. Masterton with a population of 6000 had fifteen bankruptcies against Greymouth’s three. In Te Kuiti (population 2,200) there were six, Taihape, (2000) five, Temuka (2000) four, Whangarei (5000) eight, and Dannevirke (5000) nine, l-'eilding

alone of the many provincial centres of a. similar size to Greyinoutli can hold pride of place in the smallness of its bankruptcy returns, there being a

similar number in the Manawatu centre as in Greyinouth. Tho other West Coast towns of Westport. Hokitika anJ Reefton also boar very (;> vourable comparison with the rest of the Dominion.