“SICKNESS IN HOME CAUSED FAILURE.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 144, 19 June 1931, Page 7

“SICKNESS IN HOME CAUSED FAILURE.”

BANKRUPT CLEANER MEETS HIS CREDITORS. The_ creditors of Charles Hathaway Hitchings, window cleaner, of Sydenham, met this morning. Mr J. H. Robertson, Official Assignee, presided. The schedule set out bankrupt’s liabilities as £217 9s lOd to unsecured creditors and £32 to secured creditors. The securities were valued at £54, and other assets, consisting of stock in trade, were estimated at £lO. The nominal deficiency was £lB5 9s lOd. In his sworn statement, bankrupt said that he had been in business as a window cleaner for seven years. He did not drink, smoke, or gamble, and had always lived moderately. He had six children, three of whom were dependent on him. For a considerable period his wife had been sick, and had to go into the sanatorium. During that time he had to employ a housekeeper to look after the home and the children. Over the past five years he had had to raise money on his furniture and other assets, on account of the additional expense caused by the sickness of his wife. Payments on those debts were an added on his resources. He thought that if business brightened up he would be able to retrieve his position, but instead of brightening business fell away, and when two of his creditors took out summonses against him he was compelled to file. He attributed his failure to sickness in the home and the loss occasioned thereby. After bankrupt had been examined by the Assignee, the meeting decided that no further action should be taken in the meantime and proceedings were adjourned.