DEPRESSION, FIRE & WHITE BUTTERFLY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 June 1933, Page 5

DEPRESSION, FIRE & WHITE BUTTERFLY.

i■m ■ i ■ * Bankrupt Chinese gardener. DEFICIENCY OF £1640. I __________ A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Leong Wai, a Chinese gardener and fruiterer, of Poxton and Levin, was held in the Courthouse at : Levin yesterday afternoon, before the Deputy Official Assignee, ;Mr C. A. Dempsy. The following creditors were present—(Messrs A, Pope (representing Thompson Bros., Ltd., and Leary and Co,), W. Bull, :P. Parker, von Hartitzsch, M. O’Connor, and J. Bagrie, and Mr K. Adams acting for bankrupt. . BANKRUPT’S POSITION. The financial position of the bankrupt, as submitted, showed that the ■amounts due to unsecured creditors totalled £l7lO 9s 9d, there being no secured creditors. The assets were estimated as follows: Stock in trade at Levin shop, £4O; vegetables growing in garden at Pox ton, £3O, total £7O; leaving a deficiency of £1640 9s 9d. 'The following is .a list of the principal creditors: —Palmerston North: Johnston and Co., Ltd., £53 17s 8d; BarTaud and Abraham, Ltd., £74 18s 4d; J. L. Bennett, Ltd., £lO 5s 2d; D. J. Carter, £ll6 Is. Levin: Maurice O’C'onI'nor, £l7 8s 8d; Parker Vincent and Go., £B6 15s 8d; W. Bull, Ltd., £2B 10s; J. Bagrie, £27. Wellington: Levin and Co., Ltd., £2l 18s 7d; Gee Bros., £39 15s; Yee Chong Wing and Co., £36 17s lOd; Dick Lee and Co., £74 0s 3d; Wpng She and Co., £4l Is 3d; G, Wall Kee and Co., £39 is sd; Hop Hing (shop) £397 5s 3d; Hop Hing (garden), £l9B 6s 4d; Thompson Bros., Ltd., £43 (11s 2d; George Thomas and Co., Ltd., £23 6s 6d; Laery and Co., Ltd., £7O 6s 4d; Chung Wah, £24 10s; Auckland, A. B. Donald, Ltd., £ls 11s 6d. Hastings: H. G. Aspey and Co., Ltd., £l6 12s lid; G. O. MLCuteheon and Co., Ltd., £ll 18s 7d. Poxton: R. Moore and Bergin, £ll6 Is; Harold Osborne, £3O 13s 6d; Sara, £ls; J, Thompson, £lB. Dunedin: Willie Wong, £46. 'The following written statement was submitted to the D.O.A. by bankrupt: “My failure is entirely due to stagnation of trade caused by the present depression. I went back last year owing to the extremely low prices ruling for vegetables, in addition to which my house at Poxton was destroyed by fire. This year my vegetable crop has been practically ruined by green fly, white butterfly and diamond moths. I can make no offer to my creditors.” BANKRUPT EXAMINED. Questioned by the D.O.A. the bankrupt stated on oath that he had removed no vegetables from the Poxton garden since filing his petition for bankruptcy on June 14th ancl had sent no vegetables to Wellington since that date. On the 31st March he had taken vto Beach road, Levin, two horses, cart (and harness, one plough, a set of harrows and discs, which he had sold to his brother, Leong Moon, in lieu of wages owing tci the latter. He estimated that there was more than ten tons of potatoes now in the garden at Poxton. There was other vegetables, but they were poor crops. He had not had good crops of vegetables for the past two years. Asked if he had sent any money to China, bankrupt stated he had sent £4O to his wife in April, 1932, but none since, nor had he contributed any money towards the war. In reply to .Mr Bull, ths D.O.A. said that the plant taken to Beach Road would have to be returned. Mr Adams, representing the bankrupt, said he had advised bankrupt that it was legal for him to hand them over in lieu of wJiges. The D.O.A. said he would get a legal 'opinion on the matter. Mr A. Pope asked how long had ‘ bankrupt’s brother been at the garden on Beach road. i Bankrupt said he started there during the month of May. Mr Pope said his firm had advanced bankrupt the sum of £4O in March. He ask<id what tl is money had been used for. Bankrupt said this money had been spent in the purchase of seed and food and payment of wages at the Poxton garden. Mr Parker said that on January 30th of this year bankrupt had drawn a cheque for £34 from the bank for himself; also several amounts during the next few weeks. He asked what these amounts were used for. Bankrupt said these amounts were used, to pay wages to between fifteen and twenty casual workers. He had a permanent staff of six Chinese and ten Maoris. GOOD WORKER BUT BAD MANAGER. , During the course of his examination by the D.0.A., the bankrupt stated that since filing a creditor had removed a quantity of goods from the £evin shop. The creditor, however, stated tliis was the first he had heard of it. He had just returned from the South Island, and would enquire into the matter. Mr Bagrie said he had made inquiries in Poxton about bankrupt and he had been informed that he was a hard working ijian and 'vyffil spoken of. Mr Pope said he had known rupt for a good number of years and he did not think it was any fault of his that he had been compelled to file. 'The D.0.A.: “He should have filed twelve months ago.” Continuing, Mr Pope said bankrupt was a hard working man and had no intention to take any person down. He had fallen through trying to run the shoo as well as the garden. He / was a bad manager. I

Remarking that the prospects did not look too bright for the creditors, the D.O.A. adjourned the meeting sine die.