BANKRUPT EX-SOLDIER TELLS TALE OF BAD LUCK

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17854, 24 May 1926, Page 4

BANKRUPT EX-SOLDIER TELLS TALE OF BAD LUCK

A story of adversity and ill-health, not confined to one member of the fatnily, was told by William John M’Laughlin, a labourer, of Warwick Street, Richmond, when he was met today by his creditors. In the end the meeting was adjourned sine die, the Official Assignee (Mr A. W. Watters) to go further into bankrupt's position.

Mr T. M. Kaye, representing the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association. Ltd., w r as appointed chairman. The principal unsecured creditors were: —The New Zealand Farmers’ Cooperative Association of Canterburv, Ltd., £23 12s sd; T- Wilson, £l6 5s 4d: A. M’Kenzie, £3 12s; E. V. Hibbart. £3 12s 7d; Mrs E. Arnold, £2 18s 6d; Empire Express Company, £2 ss; Flockton Dairy, £2 3s.

The total against unsecured creditors was £72 Is od. That against a secured creditor was £24, the value of the security being £SO. The deficiency was £46 Is’ sd.

The secured creditor was the Repatriation Department, which held a bill of sale over bankrupt’s furniture. In his sworn statement, bankrupt said that he was a returned soldier who had had three and a half years’ service and had a good discharge as to character. lie was invalided home through gunshot wounds, and he had not been the same man since. He had been attended to on many occasions by Dr 11. Newton, who had said that he should be in the Sanatorium at Cashmere Hills. He had been married eight years, and was the father of five children. ranging from seven years to ten weeks in age. 11 is wife had been treated by medical practitioners for over seven months, and was almost a cripple. Consequently he had had to employ a woman in the house- It could thus be seen that the expenses and worry had been great. His weekly wage had been a little over £3 12s 6d, and many a week there had been very little coming in. During the past eighteen months his wages had been £7 19s 8d a fortnight.

In answer to questions. M’Laughlin said that he found that he was getting behind with his accounts about twelve months ago. He did not go to his creditors and put his position before them.

The chairman: Have you paid anything to your creditors?—Yes. Mr A. M’Kenzie: That is wrong, absolutely.

Mr Kaye: Are you in a position to make any offer? You are getting nearly £4 a week.

Mr M’Kenzie said that he would not have been at the meeting, but he was assured that the bankrupt had been going around the district bleeding the tradesmen. He had no faith in bankrupt's oath. He was doing it systematicalb*. and had no intention of paying. The speaker knew that it was a hard case in which a man had to support a wife and five children, but he was not satisfied.

Mr Kaye (to bankrupt): Are you justified in going on having kiddies when.you are in the position you are? Do you go to race meetings? Bankrupt: I have not been on a racecourse for over three years.

Mr Kaye said that he was not satisfied with the position as shown, and could not reconcile himself to the figures and statements. It looked to him as if the money was being frittered away.

On the motion of Mr M’Kenzie, the meeting was adjourned, with a recommendation that the Official Assignee make further inquiries-