BAKER BANKRUPT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11029, 18 March 1914, Page 5

BAKER BANKRUPT.

PUBLIC TRUSTEES' PECULIAR POSITION; CREDITORS FAIL TO APPEAR. The Public TrliStee ' was - placed in rather a/peculiar position this morning, when a'meeting of creditors--in the estate of George Hessell Burt; journeyman baker, of Christchurch, was to have been held at the offices of the "Official Assignee. The Public Trustee was one of the unsecured creditors, and being, iu addition, the Official Assignee, he had to fill a dual position. As it happened, ijot another creditor appeared, and after, the pustomary quarter of an hour, the Official Assignee declared the meeting to have lapsetl. The position was that bankrupt had owed the Public -Trustee £0 lis for rent. When lie received a judgment summons and the Public Trustee began to press for money, he went to the Official Assignee and used the., money he had .saved as means of paying the expenses for tiling as a bankrupt. The Official Assignee therefore had no option in the' case.

Bankrupt in his sworn statement- said that he was a single man of forty-three .years. He had worked as a journey.'naa baker for the last sixteen years, earning on an average during tho last twelve months not more than 30s per week. Prior to thai lie had earned about £3 per week. The reason for the reduction was tho state of his health and the lack of opportunity to obtain work. He had not at any time lived extravagantly, .and his reason for filing was that a judgment .summons had been issued against him by Mr Kesteven and the Public Trustee, and others were threatening. He fded 'with the' moneys he had saved out of his wages. He had no assets other than those disclosed. and at the present he was working at his trade on temporary employment at Waiau. . Tli© statement showed unsecured creditors £B6 4s 4d, and there were no assets. Theiunsecured creditors wero 3?. D. Kesteven, £39 12s 4d; W. S. Burt, £l7; Public Trust Office (estate of John Sargeant, deceased), £6 lis; London Dental Rooms, £3 8s; A: Adamson, £5; Thompson, £2 3s; T. Wissj £2; Pcgley, £2; Highbury Laundry, £1 10s; Christchurch Gas Company, Ltd., £2; It. Briggs. £5.