STORY OF MISFORTUNE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 488, 2 September 1915, Page 10

STORY OF MISFORTUNE.

BANKRUPT THROUGH ILLNESS. A story of misfortune is that of Carl Bernard Max Straubel, a draughtsman, living at 75 Breeze's Road, New Brighton, who has had to file a petition in bankruptcy because of an illness which has wrecked his career. A meeting of his creditors was called for this afternoon, at the office of the Official Assignee, Mr T. I). Kendall. ; In his Sworn statement, bankrupt said that his present misfortune was caused through his eyesight failing some 13 months ago. At that time he had certain small outstanding accounts, caused partly through borrowing liioney some time previously, and on account of sickness in the family. Prior to his affliction he had every reasonable hope of gradually paying off these accounts. For 12 months after that, to July 8,1915, he was under special medical; treatment, and during that time he was on sick pay, endeavouring to keep paid up the extra expenses during that period, and also to keep up payment of his rent. Finally, through loss of eyesight, the doctors gave him no hope. He was retired as medically unfit, on a pension of 18/per week. He,had a wifp and four young children. He had no - assets whatever, except the furniture in the house, which would not bring £2O if submitted for sale at -auction. Bankrupt's liabilities, all unsecured, amount to £l3l 19/6, owing to 18 creditors. The assets are set down as nil, the value of the furniture being under the amount which, bankrupt is entitled to retain. As the statutory quarter of an hour passed by without a quorum of creditors being obtained, the meeting was adjourned sine die. The! Official Assignee stated that he had received a message from one of the creditors, the late Dr Bell's trustees, stating that they wished to express

their sympathy with Mr Straubel, and would waive any claim they had. One or two other creditors had expressed the same feelings to Mr Straubel. Evidently the other creditors did not think it w&s worth while attending the meeting. A representative of the New Zealand Farmers' Go-operative Association said he had no doubt his firm" would fall in line with the other creditors. Mr Kendall also explained that bankrupt had been in the Government service for only a comparatively short time, and so his pension was only 18/- a week.