HORATIO BOTTOMLEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

HORATIO BOTTOMLEY.

HEAVY LIABILITIES. LECTURE TOUR ABANDONED. PERMIT REFUSED BY CANADA. " At tlio age of seventy I have to start practically all over again," said Mr. Horatio Bottomley in tho course of a statement at tho London Bankruptcy Court a few weeks ago, when ho attended for his resumed public examination before Mr. Registrar Warniington. Mr. Bottomley said in his statement:— " I ija d been approached from several quarters with a view to undertaking an extensive lecture tour through the United States and British Dominions and at least £IOO,OOO had been assured to mo. " Tho tour was to bo organised under the directions of a near relativo of Lord Birkenhead, and matters had so far proceeded that a conference of my creditors was held to meet this gentleman, when with practical unanimity arrangements were agreed 011 whereby he undertook to discharge all my obligations by weekly remittances from tho proceeds of tho tour. " I was of course aware of tho stringent provisions of the American immigration law. But as a result of correspondence I had with iho American consul 1 had

j been promised a non-immigrant visa. At I this stage, however, it came to my know- , ledge that- Canada had practically adopted i the immigration law of tho United Spates, i I therefore at once approached iho High ; Commissioner, the late Hon. Peter Larkin, i and was gratified by the receipt of a 1 letter from him warmly welcoming my : proposed visit, and promising to pass on the suggestion to the Canadian Minister i and expressing the opinion that ho would ! doubtless take a similar view.

" I thereupon proceeded with tho arrangements for Iho tour, which were well on " the road to completion when I learned that certain political influences were beim; brought to bear with a view to frustrating tho scheme, and in due course the High Commissioner informed me that, after all, the Canadian Minister of Labour did not see his way to waive the. provisions of tho Act. In vhese circumstances I took 110 further step in rogard to tho proposed tour."

Mr. Boltomley added that, ever since his return home ho hail to fight a cruel boycott. The Australian Federal Government had granted him special permission to visit the Commonwealth, and ho might

theiefore shortly undertake a lecture tour there and possibly in South Africa and Rhodesia, lie. left the court full of determination to discharge all his just obiiga--I ions. '("ho examination was concluded. Mr. Bollomley's amended statement of affairs showed gross liabilities £116.760, ranking at .11115,899. As sets were estimated at £IOOO, apart from a bad book debt of £l.'j()o and a doubtful one of £SOOO, 'lie value of which was uncertain. In Mr. Bollomley's original statement the amount of this debt was returned at £IO,OOO.