FIRE AND ILL-LUCK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1924, Page 2

FIRE AND ILL-LUCK.

PICTURE OPERATOR FAILS. DEFICIEN'CY OF £547. CAN MAKE NO OFFER. Extensive damage, to iris stock in trade by .fire, continued ill-luck subsequently, and a distress warrant and a judgment summons against him, were the reasons for his bankruptcy given by 'Hee Leonard Whiting, picture theatre operator, Opunake. who appeared before the Deputy Official Assignee (Mr. J. 8. S. Medley) at New Plymouth yesterday. Bankrupt attended and was represented by counsel (Mr. R. <E. BaeyCTtz), creditors being the Dunlop Rubber Co., (Mr. C. H. Wynvard), Mr. H. B. Gibson (Mr. Brooker), Smart Bros. (Mr. A. Smart), J. B. MaeEwan .JAd. (Mr. Hamilton- and Mr. IF. Loesch*

The financial statement showed a deficiency in tihe estate of £547 Bs, which will be increased to £l r 24>7 8s if contingent liabilities to the value of £660 are subsequently approved, The liabilities in question are the value of two picture films which were burnt, the point at issue being the question of whether these were insured, or if they were not whether bankrupt or the film companies are responsible for .their, insurance. The Fox Film Oomlpany (£300)- and the Universal Film Company ( £360) were the companies concerned. The only secured creditor was Mr. Abraham Clough, Opunake, the debt owing to him amounting to . £3BO and the estimated value of the security being £2OO. Unsecured debts totalled £505 Bs. The unsecured creditors were:—-Ra-hohi Town Hall committee, £7 10s; Lyttle and Holmes, garage proprietors, Opunake, £8; Dunlop Rubber Co., Wellington, £l3; Para Rubber Co., Hawera, £36 6s 6d; J. B. Mac Ewan, New Plymouth, £207; M. Winstanley, spinster, Wlaitara, £4; Hughson’s, Ltd.., merchants, Opunake, £l6; Evans, land agent, Hawera, £34; Hawera Star, £4; Harrington’s Ltd., Wellington, £47; Smart Bros., electricians, New Plymouth, £4O; Fox Film Co., Wellington, £2O; Exhibitors. Alliance Film Co., Wellington, £3; Deputy-Commissioner of Stamps, New. Plymouth (amusement tax), £8 Us 6d; T. S. Hickey, newspaper proprietor, Opunake, £3.

-CAPITAL OF £2OO. “In, the beginning of August, 1022,” said bankrupt in his written statement, “I started to look round for machinery to set up a picture business. I had then about £2OO in cash. I bought a Powers machine for £195 and about £36 worth of sundries from Harrington’s Ltd., Wellington, paying a deposit of £5O, the balance to be paid at the rate of £2 Is per week. 1 also bought a a Anderson’s engine and generator from J. B. Mac Ewan, Ltd., New Plymouth, valued at £290, paying a deposit of £5O, the balance to be paid at the rate of £2 10s a week. ’From Wilson’s Motors Ltd., Eltham, I, bought a car which wad converted into a van for £lBO, paying a deposit of £5O. The balance was to be paid weekly. “1 eventually commenced business on December 26, 1922, and was paying my way up till February 26, 1923, when part of the plant was totally destroyed and the balance -badly damaged by fire. The Anderson’s engine was insured and was repaired by J. B. Mac Ewan and Co., being paid for by the insurance company. The Powers machine and equipment were not insured, the only things saved being the stand and lantern house. I had to get £126 worth of machinery, etc., to replace what was burnt, for which I gave a bill of sale over my furniture for £9O, paying £6O to Harrington’s Ltd. My weekly payments to that firm were then raised to £3 Is. Two programmes were burnt in the fire, one from the Universal Film Co., valued at £395 tte, and one from the Fox Film Co., valued at £3OO odd, on which there was no insurance. I did not get started again until May 7, 1923, being out of work while waiting for the machinery to be repaired. “ILL LUCK CONTINUES.” “I then had the bad weather ’before me and seemed to have a continued stream of bad luck. The van caused me a great deal of trouble and loss of time. On May Jl, on my way home from showing at Waibotara, the van broke down completely and as I have never had the money I have been unable to have same repaired. I have done my best to make up back debts but cannot make any headway. In the beginning of July, 1923, 1 raised another loan of £l5O to pay Harrington’s £lOO for clearance of the Powers machine, the £5O 'being divided amongst the creditors. I have never at any time drawn more than £4 a week for wages and many times I have had to do with less. I have a wife, mother and two . children to keep. lam quite sure I would have made the -business pay if tlie fire had not occurred. The only assets I have are the Powers machine, furniture and van, which are under bill of sale to Mr. A. Clough, of Opunake. lam therefore unable to make any offer. Books have been kept all along.”

Examined under oath, ibankrupt confirmed -what he had said, in his written statement. He had given a bill of sale over the car to Mr. Clough in August last, but the car was worth nothing. Mr. Clough had seized the plant and leased it to Mr. Brennan, who paid bankrupt £3 a week to -run it. Competition in Opunake was keen because there were two picture shows in the town. After a, brief discussion Mr. Wynyard moved that providing the D.O.A. was satisfied the securities were an order, the meeting be adjourned sine die. This was seconded by Mr. Smart and carried.