TAXI OWNER’S FAILURE.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17501, 7 September 1928, Page 7

TAXI OWNER’S FAILURE.

ASSETS NIL. AN UNPROFITABLE RUN. There were no creditors present at the examination in bankruptcy of Robert Henry Hampton, taxi proprietor of Franklon, by the Official Assignee, Mr J. 11. Robertson, this morning. Bankrupt's schedule showed debts owing to unsecured creditors, £2lB 11s 6d. He had no assets.

Bankrupt, in his statement, said that he started business as a taxi-pro-prietor, and did well until the end of October,'l927. Up till that time his cars were freehold. Later he decided to start a service between Hamilton and Auckland, and bought a new car to run on this service. He put tlie freehold car in as part payment, and trouble commenced. He found that the model he had purchased was nearly two years old. During the four months he ran the car it cost him £43 for tyres and repairs, notwithstanding that 'three months’ service was promised with the new car. As a result of representations made, the car was exchanged for another, and in the few weeks it was in use it cost him £9O for repairs. lie attributed his failure to the fact that tlie representations made in reference to the suitability of the cars sold to him were not borne out. Cross-examined by Mr Robertson, bankrupt said that in eight months he had paid the motor company £3OO. The Auckland run had proved a lamentable failure, and he did not consider anyone could make a success of it on a fare from 12s Gd to las per head. Mr Robertson remarked that that -was pretty evident, judging from the number of taxi proprietors who had gone through the bankruptcy courts latety. • The meeting was adjourned to allow bankrupt to draw up a statement of his weekly receipts and expenditure in connection with the AucklandIlamilton service.