LONG LIST OF CREDITORS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20101, 18 May 1927, Page 6

LONG LIST OF CREDITORS.

MANY CALLINGS REPRESENTED. BANKRUPT'S SCATTERED OPERATIONS. OFFICIAL ASSIGNEE DISSATISFIED. (Special to Dailx Times.) WELLINGTON. May 17. A meeting of creditors called for this morning in the bankrupt estate of John Howard William Tapp, a scrap metal dealer, lapsed for want of a quorum. The unsecured creditors’ claims for small amounts totalled £428 I6s sd, and the assets were £2O. The creditors lived in placet as far apart as Wellington, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Napier, Shannon, Kimbolton, Milson’s Line, Feilding, Eltham, Hastings, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Haiv-era, Midhurst, Inglewood, Opunake, Dannevirke, Waipukurau, Stratford. Waitara, and Okaiawa, and embraced bakers, carriers, butchers, doctors, motor engineers, garage proprietors, farmers, grocers, a land agent, a glazier, an outfitter, a wine merchant, an ironmonger and founder, a draper, and a blacksmith.

Bankrupt’s statement was that he was married, and had three young children. Three and a-half years ago he was living at Hawera, labouring, and paying his way. Then he commenced dealing in scrap metal, sometimes doing well and Bometimes badly. He had to use a car, and bought a used one for £45, paying a cash deposit of £lO and another instalment of £lO. Then it broke down, and lie let it go after hiring another. He bought another car for £l4O, on which he paid £3O. In all, bis weekly expenses were about £8 10s. His wife was in bad health, and he had paid out a lot of money to the doctors. He had kept a bank account since June last, and paid in about £673, keeping out only sufficient for wages and current expenses. He worked at his business in Palmerston North, New Plymouth, and Wanganui, but lost on splitting and selling firewood at Palmerston North. “I bought three locomotives from the Railway Department at Napier, and bought an acetone plant to do the job, and employed labour, but I lost on it,” said the bankrupt “1 bought three other locomotives at Wanganui, but could not finish the job as the Government took away the jacks which, I believed, were part of the purchase. I came to Wellington in January, sod carried on the scrap metal business, which did not pay well. I kept no books of my dealings, as I know nothing of accountancy. Some weeks ago I sold my furniture, which realised £4 or £5. 1 have no property except the acetone plant, on which I owe money, and value it at about £20.” Mr Ewart, of the New Zealand Railways (a creditor), who was present, said that the jacks were not sold with the locomotives.

“Why did you not file somewhere where your creditors could get hold of you?” (ts-ked the Official Assignee. “You owe £24 in Wellington out of £4OO odd. Why did not you file in Palmerston North or Wanganui The Bankrupt said that ho Lad < come to Wellington on account of his wife’s health. He was now working for his brother, who was dealing, and was receiving ICs a day. The Official Assignee: What did you owe before Christmas? —I cannot say exactly.

The bankrupt could not remember what he had paid in doctors’ fees during the last three years.

The Official Asignee: You stylo yourself a contractor. You have certainly contracted debts. I think you have gone systematically about it. You have been in 17 different towns and smaller places, and you owe money to 17 different garages. You have left debts in every town. You owe to Lakers, butchers, and doctors everywhere. You seem to have gone iiu garages in every town you went to, got fixed up. and then Went away. You have 00 creditors, and I think there are another 20 who will prove. I think, taking all the circumstances into account, the whole thing is most unsatisfactory, and that you should go before the Crown Prosecutor. You have incurred large exjvenses when yon had no chance of paying for them. You have been getting stuff for nothing and running your car for practically nothing, living on your creditors, of whom I am satisfied that by this time you have 120. _ .... The meeting was adjourned sine die.