FROM AFFLUENCE TO POVERTY

NZ Truth, Issue 882, 21 October 1922, Page 4

FROM AFFLUENCE TO POVERTY

" k Very Happy Man ! "

Before the slump came Maoriland's pasturalists were usually credited with being the bloated capitalists of God's Own Country, arid townies used to look -upon the man with broad, acn-s as a social pest, whose banking, account was built -up out of unearned increment. Nowadays things have changed, and the man on the land is having a rough spin, while some who staked too heavily on Hid .turn of the wheel have struck zero. Last week' there appeared at the Magistrate's Court a judgment debtor,, who' declared that until recently he owned the Glenlee station of 28,000 acres m Marlborougli, but could not now pay a debt to a taxi-driver of £18 9s. Even though Dame Fortune has given Ft G. Wai'ring (for that was the judgment debtor's name) the go-by, Magistrate H. Y. Widdowson regarded him as "a very happy man" because he had a- wife, with : some money.-. Warring, who as not j r et ' passed middle age and has apparently enjoyed some of the good things of life, said he had owned the Glenlee station, which he used as a grazing run. It was well stocked when the slump came, and all his sheep, cattle, horses, and now his' twenty-eight thousand acres, homestead and all, had gone, and he was without any means, except what his wife could allow . him. . The man who sought an ordc-r against Warring was Tahau Watson, taxi-driver, of Collingwood. Lawyer R. 'C. Abernethy appeared for him and questioned the debtor m this manner: When did you get rid of G-lenlee . station? — About IS months ago. It was taken over by the mortgagees. Did you get anything out of it? — No, nothing. The- Magistrate; Didn't I hear this stony before? Warring: Yes, that's correct. I've been here before. Counsel: When did you leave the place? — I stayed on without wages till the place was sold, I left eventually m January last. /What have you v done since January? —Nothing. , How have you been, living? — My wife has been supporting me. , Haven't you had any work? — No. Haven't' you any land or shares? You must, have something m the bank? ' —No ! Any family? — Three; aged five, ten, and fifteen years. You are sure you have no other source of income? — I have not anything. Well, have you any other debts? — Oh, yes! Plenty! Some thousands of pounds. Have you paid anything- since January? — Some accounts have been paid by my wife. When are you going to see about getting some work? — I've got to find something I can do! At present you've got no work, no money, and no , ; property? — That's right. ... The Magistrate: No order!