BANKRUPT FARMERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19675, 29 June 1927, Page 13

BANKRUPT FARMERS.

"STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE." TRIALS OF MOERANGI FAMILY. NO PROPER ACCESS TO LAND. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON. Tuesday. A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt e*tate of Robert Riddle, farmer, Moerangi, Kawhia, was held at Hamilton to-day, the deputy-official assignee, Mr. V. H. Sanson, presiding. Bankrupt's schedule showed a total indebtedness of £1409 13s 2d, of which £233 7s 8d was owing to unsecured creditors. Assets were set down at £ISOO, the estimated value of the property, and £35 10s for stock, leaving a nominal surplus of £125 10s lid. Bankrupt, a married man with five children, stated that he took up 482 acres of Crown land at Moerangi in 1915, when it was promised that access to the block from Kawhia would be provided. He took his wife and family there in 1919. and for eight years had a hard struggle for existence, the average weekly expenditure of the family being only £l. The block still lacked access, although a vote of £6500 for a road to Kawhia appeared on the Estimates. The only access to the property was a track across Aotea Beach when, the tide was suitable. Bankrupt said he had on several occasions spent the night on the beach when caught by the tide while droving sheep. Bankrupt stated that owing to lack of means his wife and family had not left Moerangi since they went there eight years ago. The Deteriorated Lands Commission had reduced his yearly rent from £7O to £lB, subject to certain improvements being carried out. He had been unable to afford them. There were now only seven other settlers left on the block. Bankrupt had been forced to file owing to one of his creditors having secured judgment against him. He said all his creditors had treated him with consideration.

Mr. W. Vernon, one of the creditors, remarked that he would like bankrupt to keep what little stock he had left to enable him to make a fresh start. The Public Trustee concurred with this view.

Tho deputy-official assignee said that there was little prospect for the creditors. It was hard to realise the hardships under which bankrupt and his family had been living. There was not a quorum present at the meeting and no resolution was passed.

CREDITORS DISSATISFIED. DISCHARGE TO BE OPPOSED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WAIHI, Tuesday. The business affairs of a bankrupt farmer, Edward James Crawford, of Katikati, were investigated to-day at a meeting of creditors. Crawford's statement showed liabilities to unsecured creditors £224 13s 9d, and to secured creditors £2987. The deficiency was stated to be £7ll 13s 9d. The principal secured creditor was the commissioner of Crown lands, the amount being £2500. Dissatisfaction was expressed with bankrupt's explanation of his position. The creditors decided t-o ask the official assignee to lay the facts before the Crown solicitor for investigation and to oppose bankrupt's discharge.