BANKRUPT FOOTBALLER

Te Puke Times, 20 March 1925, Page 3

BANKRUPT FOOTBALLER

GEO. GARDINER’S STATEMENT.

George Gardiner, the hefty native who formerly played for the Auckland Marist Bros.’ League football club either as a forward or five-eighths, was present as a bankrupt at the office of the Official Assignee on "i Tuesday v morning, to meet his creditors. It happened that no creditors put in ai) appearance and the meeting lapsed. The schedule setting out his position, showed that his total debts were £17912/11, and against this he showed interests in native lands which he valued at £IOOO. r'• Bankrupt Statement.

Iri'his statement filed with the Official Assignee, bankrupt said that six months after he returned froni . the , war, he entered into a billiard room and hairdressing partnership at Te Puke. He got an advance of £3OO from Repatriation Department, but after being in business nine months, he found it was not paying. He then sold his interest in the business to his partner, and took on bush clearing. This was not a success and he went “broke.” He tried other work and eventually was offered a job in Auckland and a house to live' in, provided he played football; for a certain club. He was advanced some money and; came [to Auckland to see what the proposition. was that had been made. He saw some of the club’s officials and was satisfied that all was well. His father-in-law provided him with money to come to Auckland with the family. Promises Not Fulfilled. On arriving at Auckland, the house promised him was not provided, but the officials of the football clvib put him up in a boardinghouse, he being under the impression that efforts were being made to find him a house. There was “nothing doing,” and the permanent job promised him turned out to be on the water-

front. He understood he was to Jbe guaranteed £6 a week and a house at £2 15/ a week. He received an account for £8 12/ for board and lodgings. “Of course by this time,” said bankrupt in his statement, “I found I was in the soup again. However, the club had to fork out. They advanced me furniture to the value of £3O, this to be paid back at a few shillings a week. I complained that I was not averaging more than £3 a week wages. ' “Anyway I played 5 the game, and the team I played for won the championship. I cqmplained of my rent being too high apd got jt reduced £1 5' a week, and then : Bigfted agreement for the lease |bf the house for two years. At .present I have a family of three and'earn on an average £3 10/ a week. _