THROUGH INTERPRETER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 615, 18 March 1929, Page 10

THROUGH INTERPRETER

TEDIOUS QUESTIONING OF CHINESE MARKET GARDENER FAILS . Though an interpreter, the finances of Lee Kwun, a market gardener, of Favona Road. Mangere. were investigated by the official asignee this morning. Lee had a Chinese solicitor with him. too. but his explanations were not accepted in their entirety by the assignee. Mr. G. N. Morris. “I have had several Chinese bankrupts through my office.*’ Mr. Morris said. “Some have been honest: some have not. I want this man to make an offer to his creditors, one of whom has apparently lost fairly heavily. I shall judge Lee's honesty on his actions later.”

Lee's examination was a tedious business and much time was spent in unravelling the meaning of figures of his business books.

How Lee had had five partners altoi getlier in his business was told in his | statement. About eight years ago. ; the bankrupt leased a 22-acre prop- ! erty at Mangere. Three partners were with him, but one withdrew in 1922 and was paid £IOO from the business. Two yearsr later, a second partner followed and was paid £l3O. When the third partner withdrew, he sold to two other Chinese. One soon retired and drew nothing from the business. Up to this time, the garden was paying. When the remaining partner broke a leg it meant a loss of £2OO to the business. This loss, with the effect of several bad seasons, Lee gave as the cause for his bankruptcy. “My landlord would not allow me to employ Maori labour,” Lee said, "and I had to employ expensive casual labour.” Lee owed £259 Is 5d to unsecured creditors and £IOO to secured creditors. His assets were only £4O. In answer to questions, Lee denied that he had property in China and said that he did not expect advances from his father. He denied gambling, although he admitted that he attended race meetings as recently as Christmas and February.