IN BANKRUPTCY

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11783, 20 March 1924, Page 4

IN BANKRUPTCY

DEGREASE IN FIGURES. LAST YEAR’S RETURNS. As compared with the year ended December 31st, 1922, the twelve months ended December 31st, 1923, Showed a marked decrease in the number of estates assigned in bankruptcy. In 19212 there were 256 assignments, whereas last year theme were 184. The member of farmers to file petitions is still greater than any other class of the community, but even heme a decrease of 24 is noted. The appended table sets out a com. parison for the two yearns of Wellington and sub districts:

There were 42 cases in which the total liability amounted to between £IOO and £250, five under £SO, and a sunilar number relating to £SOOO and upwards. The comparisons am aa follow, the figures far 1922 being given in parentheses:—Under £SO, 6 (9): £SO to £IOO, 13 (23); £IOO to £250, 42 (90); £250 to £SOO, 38 (54); £6OO to £IOOO, 37 (54); £IOOO to £2OOO, 2/ (35); £2OOO to £SOOO, 15 (13); £SOOO upwards, 5 (7). Following are the occupations of the bankrupts, the figures for 1922 being given in parentheses:— Aboriginal, 1 (24); agent, 1 (0); architect, 1 (0); auctioneer, 1 (5) : taker, 2 (4); barber, 1 (2); billiard-saloon keeper, 2 (0); blacksmith, 1 (2); hoarding-house keeper, 2 (2); bootmaker, 2 (1); builder, 6 (3); bus proprietor, 0 (1); butcher, 6 (1): cabinetmaker, 2 (3) ; carpenter, 2 (5); carrier, 4 (4); caterer, 0 (1); cheese factory proprietor, 1 (0); commission agent, 1 (3): confectioner, 1 (3); contractor, 3 (4); cycle agent, 1 (5); clerk, 0 (1); ooaahbuilder, 0 (2): commercial traveller, 0 (2); company manager 0 (1)-; compositor, 0 (1); dealer, 1 (0); drover, 2 .(1); draper, 0 (2): dryer and cleaner, 1 (0); electrician, 1 (1); engineer, 4 (8); express driver, 0 (1); fanner, 39 (63); farm labourer. 2 (0); flaxmiller, 1 (0); fruiterer, 5 (6) ; furniture manager, 1 (0); furniture dealer, 0 (1); florist, 0 (1); firewood dealer, 6 (1); garage proprietor, 1 (4); groom, 1 (0); grocer, 0 (3); gardener, 0 (1); horse trainer, 1 (0) ; hotelkeeper, 10 (4); hairdresser, 0 (2); insuranos agent, 1 (0); indent agent, 0 (1); joiner, 1 (0) ; jockey, 0 (1); key specialist, 1 (0): labourer, 26 (18); land agent, 2 (1); livery stablekeeper, 0 (2); manufacturer, 1 (0); married woman, 1 (2); merchant, 1 (0): mill hand, 3 (0); motor engineer, 1 (3); mail contractor, 0 (1); motor mechanic, 2 (4); motor trimmer, 0 (1); motor tire agent, 0 (1); motor importer, 1 (0); newspaper proprietor, 0 (1); optician, 0 (1); orchardist, 0 (1); painter, 4 (1) : picture proprietor, 1 (2); photographer, 1 (0); piano dealer, 1 (0) l plumber, 1 (0); plasterer, 0 (1); platelayer, 0 (1); restaurant keeper, 2 (3); salesman, 1 (0); sawmill hand, 2 (0); seed tester, 1 (0) ; settler, 1 (1); sawmiller, 0 (3); secondhand dealer, 0 (2); share milker, 1 (1); sheep farmer, 3 (2) ; shepherd, 1 (1); shearer, 1 (0); storekeeper, 2 (6) ; studmaster, 0 (1); taxi-driver, 1 (1); taxi proprietor 3 (10); tailor, 0 (2) ; tobacconist, 1 (1); importer, 1 (0); typewriter mechanic, 0 (1); wood dealer, 2 (1); wool scourer, 1 (0); wine and spirit merchant, 0 (1); wool classer, 0 (1).

Wanganui — 1923. 38 1922. 51 Palmerston N. 21 43 Taihape 7 —• Wairoa — 5 —— Napier _ 53 73 Daimevirke 9 22 Pahiatna --- - r4 6 Mastertoi) 11TrT 9 14 Blenheim 8 8 Nelson 6 11 Wellington 24 30 Totals . 184 256 The approximate amounts involved are set out as under:— 1923. 1962. £ £ Awota as per statements ... 83,326 122,887 Secured to creditors 284,26? 663,838 liabilities 169,309 216,916 Debts proved 177,860 313,147