BANKRUPT BAKER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 102, 11 April 1933, Page 10

BANKRUPT BAKER

HASTINGS BUSINESS FAILS. AFFAIRS OF T. H. CRUTCHLEY. A meeting of creditors summoned to take place in Hastings yesterday in connection with the bankruptcy of Thomas Hugh Crutchley, baker and pastrycook, of Hastings, lapsed for want of a quorum. Mr F. Scott, deputy official ass'gnee, presided, and there was only one creditor present. Bankrupt’s financial statement has already been published. In his personal statement, bankrupt said that he had carried on business as a baker in Taradale for over nine years, and in September, 1930, his capital was £l3BB. Sickness in his family just before the earthquake cost him over £ 100, and as a result of earthquake damage to his premises he had to close down his business. His capital was thus reduced to £942. It was some time before he could arrange to begin in business again, and in the meantime he was compelled to live on his capital. In October, 1931, lie took over a business in Masterton, but m the first fortnight he found that it had been misrepresented. He forced the vendor to take it back in the following month. Bankrupt came to Hastings with a capital of £685 in November. 1931. He was unable to obtain suitable baking premises until the following May, and shortly afterwards he leased a shop from Mrs L. A. Rogers and Mr 11. C. Robjohns at £3 10/- a week. The business showed a loss of from £5 to £7 a week. He had to abandon the shop, but Mr Rogers told him that he would be fully liable under the terms of the lease. Bankrupt offered the lessors £4O to cancel the lease, but they declined to accept it. Bankrupt had therefore no option but to file his petition. Since November Mr Rogers had issued on behalf of the lessors and his firm five summonses, three judgment summonses, and a distress warrant. The first two judgment summonses were settled in full, but he could not pay the others. "Tf I had been given any time or consideration at all. then T am quite sure that I could have pulled through,” the statement concluded.