BANKRUPT TAXI-DRIVER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 803, 25 October 1929, Page 13

BANKRUPT TAXI-DRIVER

“MAKING CONVENIENCE OF ACT”

“lie is only making a convenience of the Bankruptcy Act to escape the debt imposed upon him by the jury,” remarked Mr. Justice Herdman, in the Supreme Court today, in refusing to grant Percy King, a Devonport taxidriver, his discharge from bankruptcy. The motion was opened by Mr. Hunt, who explained that King had been co-respondent in a divorce suit brought by the petitioning creditor, who had been awarded £350 damages. King made tio attempt to reduce the liability, and the amount of the debt had been reduced by the creditor to £3OO to bring it within magisterial jurisdiction. The case had been removed to the Magistrate’s Court, where the creditor had obtained a judgment summons order. King then filed in bankruptcy, but, at the meeting of creditors, he was instructed to supply a regular statement concerning his expenditure and pay all money more than £3 10s weekly to the Official Assignee, but he had not done so.

Mr. Blakey, who supported the motion, said that King was now married and was unable to make any payments. “He ought to have paid his debts before getting married,” observed his Honour. He added that had bankrupt become involved in financial difficulties, or been overtaken by misfortune, the position would have been different. He, however, had made no effort at all to reduce the debt, although he was receiving £4 12s 6d weekly.