DRESS EXTRAVAGANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 282, 2 December 1935, Page 7

DRESS EXTRAVAGANCE

“THREE GLORIOUS YEARS.’ *‘l do not know that I have ever heard such amazing disclosures about dress extravagance,” was the comment of the Official Receiver at Salisbury, England, upon the spendings of a former Royal Air Force officer. The man he referred to, Neville Vezey Bertram, aged 24, confessed at his public examination in bankruptcy that he had lived at the rate of nearly £2UU(J a year on a salary of £3OO. At preliminary examinations Bertram failed to appear, and a warrant was issued. He now stated he vanished so that he could get money to pay his creditors. He had succeeded, and all would be paid. Bertram said he joined the Air Force at 17. His pay was £3OO a year rising to £360. His most expensive item was entertaining. He paid for other people’s drinks, there were dinners ami dances, and he spent a lot on clothes. He agreed that for “a mere boy” this was disgraceful extravagance. Official Receiver; They were three glorious years? Bertram; They were not so glorious as they sound. Formerly he used to get money from bis father. When bis father died he bequeathed a business to his brother, leaving Bertram nothing. Official Receiver: Did he wash his hands of you because of the way you had been living? Bertram; No. He wanted me to marry one pcrsc-n, and he said if I did not marry her I should get nothing. 1 did not marry her. It was declared that Bertram left the Air Force bv cause of injuries he received in a crash. The Official Receiver, declaring the examination closed, remarked, “The only redeeming feature about the whole thing is that, the debtor has been frank in his replies, and has admitted his extravagance.”