BANKRUPT TAXI-DRIVER.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17407, 21 May 1928, Page 8

BANKRUPT TAXI-DRIVER.

A TE AWAMUTU CASE.

TOBACCONIST FOR 21 YEARS.

INCOMPETENT EMPLOYEES. Debts totalling £2146, including £726 dun lo unsecured creditors, were disclosed in the schedule of Samuel Henry Dwen, taxi-driver, and tobacconist. To Awamutu, who to-day met his creditors at Hamilton. Bankrupt's assets were valued at £2071, including £175 stock-in-trade. £394 book debts (estimated to produce £200), car £75, and property £2120. A nominal surplus 0f % £424 was shown. Bankrupt furnished a lengthy written statement, in which he said he had been carrying on business as a tobacconist at Te Awamutu for 21 years. In 1915 he employed a returned soldier as a taxi-driver. The man was not a success, so he (bankrupt) took over the car himself and put an assistant in charge of -the shop. He purchased several cars and employed men to drive them. Competition became keen, and lie was compelled to put off several drivers. He sold two of the cars at a loss. The tobacconist business fluctuated a good" deal, and a couple of months ago he realised it was not paying. Bankrupt stated that he owed his brother £2OO, which went into the tobacconist business, and that he owed bis son £74. This money was spent on painting his house. The book debts were numerous, and he admitted that he had been lax in this respect. That he had been unwise in giving credit lo natives and others for car hire for a period extending over several years was admitted by Dwen. In "answer to the Assignee, Mr J. 11. Robertson, who presided over the meeting, bankrupt said he allowed several different local'residents to go behind the counter and help themselves to goods. He knew these people well, however, and trusted them. He denied that the business was loosely conducted. He estimated the shop and saloon turnover at £SO a week. _ The Assignee commented that it seemed very strange that up till 12 months ago bankrupt's affairs were quite right. Since then there had been a sudden drop. Bankrupt ascribed this to the emplovmcnt of incompetent assistants. He" could formulate no definite charges against them, but he had strong suspicions, especially of one. The Assignee: Is it a fact that you were in the habit of holding wild parties in your saloon? Dwen: Well, not wild. Friends used to come in occasionally, perhaps with half a bottle of whisky. They would finish this and then go.

Is it a fact that you have been remitting sums of money to different persons? Bankrupt said that except for £1 a week to Ills wife, he sent no money away that was not in connection with his business. Answering a creditor, Dwen said that a postal official also had a key of the shop, and used to go in and help him occasionally. The other man did not check up the cash. The Assignee commented that there appeared to be a leakage somewhere. With a turnover .of £SO a week from the shop the position should be better than it appeared. In effect bankrupt was saying he had heen robbed by his employees. Dwen said he realises that he had been too trusting of others. Mr \V J. King, for bankrupt, said that bankrupt's first concern throughout had been for his creditors. His whole conduct proved this. There was no suggestion whatever against Dwen's honesty. Mr Dvnes Fulton, representing Dwen's brother, said the brother was a comparatively poor man. and was anxious to* get something out of the wreck The brother was, however, quite satisfied that bankrupt's conduct had been honest throughout. Mr Fulton also personally paid a tribute to the honesty of bankrupt, whom he said he had known for 47 years. The mectins confirmed the action of the \ssignec in disposing of bankrupt's stock. Bankrupt was asked to provide a list of his receipts and expenditure during the past 12 months.