DABBLING WITH MOTORS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1926, Page 15

DABBLING WITH MOTORS.

CAUSE OF A BANKRUPTCY. A LABOURERS MONEY TROUBLES. “If lie had not dabbled in ears and cycles he would have been able to pay his way,” said the D.O.A. (Air. J. S. S. Medley) yesterday after examining Arthur Edward Belk, labourer, of Midhirst, who had filed in bankruptcy for debts totalling £lBO 3s 6d, only £2l 10s of which was owing to a secured creditor. There were no assets. Mr. Freeman represented three creditors at the meeting, and it was eventually decided that discharge should be opposed until at least 15s in the £1 had been paid. Belk, in his statement, said that for the part two months he had been driving a truck for his father at Radnor Road. During this time he had had only about £4 for himself owing to the wet weather, payments for benzine for the truck, repairs and chaff for horses. With this money lie had bought a pair of boots and an overcoat. He and his father were paying 4s a cord for rata firewood and fid for each post. They had to cart the wood eight to ten miles, so that there was very little profit left after selling at £2 IBs a ls 9d a post. Before starting with his father Belk had a draining contract at Opunake, the price bemg IBs a chain for 30 chains. He did 21 chains, but scarcely made his keep owing to the unexpected difficulty of the work. He had to give up because his Jog suffered as a result of getting wet. and he now had a bad back.

THE CREDITORS. Unsecured creditors were listed as follow; : Rogers and Co., garage proprietors, Stratford, £2B'3s (id; - . Ward, Taihape, £39; I. J. Bridger, garage proprietor, Eltham, £9; Farmers’ Co-op-erative Society, grocers. Stratford, £8; Arnold George, cycle dealer, New Plymouth, £l2; Les. Berg, motor depot, Stratford, £1 ss; G. J. La mason, contractor, Stratford, £2 ss; - . Pratt, grocer, Hikitahi, £(i; —. Lewer, sawmiller, Hikitahi, £10; A. Rawles, draper, Stratford. £3; T. G. Grubb, fancy goods dealer, Stratford, £1 8s (id; Bodie Bros., motor-cycle dealers, Eltham, £11; Bake and Co., saddler, Stratford, £3 8s; Mrs. Luders, grocer, Midhirst, 12s fid; —. Petch, baker, Toko, 12s fid; G. Taylor, boot repairer, Stratford, £1 8s fid; —. Hunt, farmer, Radnor Road, £10; C. Bevin, farmer, Stratford, £5; Loach, motor depot, Opunake, £2 ss; McMillan and Fredric, merchants, Stratford, £2 ss; C. D. Martin, hardware merchant, £2. Messrs. P. E. Stain ton and Co., New Plymouth, were the only secured creditors, the debt amounting to £2l 10s. BUYING MOTOR-CYCLES. He was a single man, 29 years old, and had always worked as a labourer, said Belk under examination by the D. He had been in debt practically ever since he had commenced work. The trouble had begun wlieu -he took a contract for stumping. He had lost about £OO over it. With reference to the claim by Mr. Ward, of Taihape, for £39, bankrupt said this concerned a motor-cycle taken on the hire purchase system with a £lO deposit. He had the machine three months and then sent it back and was charged the full hire. Another motor-cycle was bought from Stainton and Co., for £23 10s on terms. He was to return this. He bought a car from Rogers and Co. for £6O, on the hire purchase system and paid £l5 cash. This car had now been taken back and £2B was owing on it. Mr. Medley: It seems to me that tho car and motor-cycles have made him bankrupt. Mr. Freeman: This lias been going on for some time? Bankrupt: About five years. He had no one to support, he added. He received no wages from his father except a little money now and then. He was paying 25s a week for board. “It seems Impeless,” said Mr. Freeman. “Here’s a single man who has been working about ten years and cannot pay his way.” “If he had not dabbled in cars and cycles he would have been able to,” commented Mr. Medley. Mr. Freeman said he had been instructed to move a resolution, but did not see quite how he was to do it, as he was the only creditor present. Mr. Medley suggested that as he held three proxies he could get over the difficulty. So on behalf of Rogers and Co. Mr. Freeman moved that the D.O.A. be asked to oppose the discharge of bankrupt until he had paid at least 15s in the £l. As deputy for G. Taylor. Mr. Freeman seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.!