YEAR'S BANKRUPTCY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18389, 3 May 1923, Page 5

YEAR'S BANKRUPTCY.

THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT. OVER DOUBLE 1921 TOTAL. A phenomenal increase in the number of bankruptcies occurred last year. Returns compiled in the office! of the* official assignee, Mr. W. S. Fisher, show that more than twice as many people in the Auckland bankruptcy district were adjudicated bankrupt during Ithoj year ended December 31 last than was the «>ase in 1921, while the 1922 total was actually six times as great as the number of bankrupts in 1920. ; The total number of bankruptcies in the Auckland bankruptcy district, which includes Hamilton, Whangarei, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Stratford,' and Hawera, under deputy-assignees, was 321, compared with 136 in 1921 and 56 in 1920. In the area administered direct from the Auckland-office there were 153 bankruptcies. •, ■ ■• ; - ; Taking the area as a whole, farmers predominated among th© bankrupts. There were 96 farmers altogether, compared with 38 in 1921. Other occupations represented were those of hairdressers, of whom there were 27, contractors 11, and builders 10. Ten Maoris filed petitions during the year. Of the total number of bankrupts for the district, 222 were working on their own account, 66 were work-, ing for wages, and 33 were employers of labour. Eollowing are the more significant particulars of the year's bankruptcies, the figures for 1921 being in parentheses: — Assets .as per statements filed, excluding amounts secured to creditors, for the whole district, £176,359 (£109,713); Auckland, £112,581 (£57,9391. Amounts secured to creditors, for the whole district, £603 831 (£163.549); Auckland, £227,158 (£41,824). Liabilities/excluding amounts secured to creditors, £355,860 (£265,923) ; Auckland, £233,505 (£192,325).. Amount of assets realised by assignee, £47,831 (£21,877). Amount of debts proved, £395,396 (£270,413). . Dividends paid, excluding preferential tad secured claims, £20,940 (£9,542). Preferential claims paid, £2863 (£1602).. Secured claims paid, £5135 (£2672). , ;