AN UNDISCHARGED BANKRUPT

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 38

AN UNDISCHARGED BANKRUPT

ILLEGALLY OBTAINS CREDIT. THREE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT. CHRISTCHURCH, September 21. Before Mr Justice Adams, George Wileox, who was in business in Ashburton as a garage proprietor and car agent, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for having obtained £2O credit from the Vacuum Oil Company without having disclosed the fact that he was an undischarged bankrupt. He was adjudicated a bankrupt at Auckland- seven years ago (before he went to Ashburton), and also this year at Timaru.

Mr Russell, who appeared for Wilcox, said that he was 32 years of age. He was born at Torrington, England, and when 18 years of age he went to the war with the Ist Life Guards. On being discharged he joined the transport corps, and was commended in despatches. He came to New Zealand in 1920, and after being in business as a taxi-driver in Auckland he became bankrupt. In Wellington he was chauffeur to Sir Francis Bell, who gave him an excellent discharge. He came to this part of the Dominion as a salesman for the Dominion Motors. He took over the Ashburton agency, and leased the Railway Garage. There was a large turnover in the business. All his small Ashburton creditors had been paid, leaving only on creditor there. He owed the Vacuum Oil Company about £420. It represented only one month’s supply of oil and petrol. In 12 mouths he sold 72 cars for the Dominion Motors. His trouble was that he had no proper supervision over his business. He was not dishonest in his trading. Mr Justice Adams: His creditors are entitled to say that he must see that he trades honestly. That is the position. Mr Russell said that "it was not contended that Wilcox had traded dishonestly. His Honor: That is the gravamen of the charge, that he carried on business and incurred debts without telling anybody that he was an undis charged bankrupt. . Surely that is not very honest, is it?