CABBAGES AND RACES

BANKRUPT CHINESE FRUITERER FAILURE DUE TO GAMBLING. It is rare for a native oi China, trading in this Dominion to have to face a meeting of creditors as a bankrupt, but that was the predicament of a Chinese fruiterer, Wong Joe Vim, who met some of his creditors before the Official Assignee (Mr.' S. Tansley) yesterday. There was no statement, the bankrupt absconded four years ago. His assetswere £163 l2s 6d. His liabilities totalled £619 14s lid. The principal creditors were: A. G. Donald, Auckland, £37 7s 6dj M.-C. White and Co., Hastings, £45 6s 9d; W. C. Ling, Carterton, £312 18s 6d; George Gee, Auckland, £74 9s 8d; Griffith and Son, Wellington, £19 15s; Nestles Anglo-Swiss Milk Co., Wellington, £21 17s 6d. The bankrupt exhibited much of the taciturnity of his race in the witness: bos, but eventually was induced to admit ho was a member of the Chinese church. He took the double oath of the match and the Bible. In examination he admitted that under the name of Jimmie Wong he had been in business in Auckland, and had gone bankrupt. There he was: in partnership with one George Chang, who took over th< business and paid the debts, he said. The Official Assignee: You are still undischarged." Wong went on to say he left Auckland about four years ago, and was afterwards in Wanganui and Eketahuna. In the latter place he bought a businesß from his cousin. He admitted he had. shut up his shop in Eketahuna and run away. The Official Assighee: "Why did you run away?" Bankrupt: "Because I had no money." "What did you do with your money?" —"Lost; lost at races." "How much did you lose?"—" More than £700—£700 or £800." From Eketahuna the bankrupt said he went to Christchurch, where he did nothing, living with the Chinamen down there. He-stayed a year in Christchurch. A creditor: Did ivou go to the races?"—" Yes. I only went,to have a look, not to bet." From Christchurch, Wong said, he went on to Dunedin for a holiday, where he had a friend who was intending to go to China. Some of the Chinamen lent him money, especially one Lucy Ung. While he was at Eketahuna he visited races at Palmerston North and Wanganui. Si Wanganui he atayed with Wun Lie. A creditor: More than,one lie. A lot of {hem." The bankrupt' said he had a good business at Eketahuna, his week's takings being from £40 to £90. The Official Assignee said -that the books showed a credit balance of £738 odd before witness ran away from Eketahuna. T ,banfcruPt «aid he had a business m Masterton, but it was not a very' good one; taking from £1 to £5 a day. He was trading under the name of W Y. Wing San. He had bought a new bicycle,, paying £7 on it arid owing still £10. A relation was looking after the shop. The Official Assignee stated that interpreters had refused to act for bankrupt. The bankrupt said his brother had giveu him .-goods to trade with. When he left Eketahuna, he took'about £12 away with him. He owed Sing On Tie in Wellington £50 or £70 for fruit, and Lung Kee about £130 or £140. The cost of fitting the shop was about £40 or £50, and he srtill owed some ■money. He had paid some money to his Chinese creditors. He had about £130 or £140 in stock at the present time. The total assets were about £250 to £270. The Assignee stated that the shop had been seized and the old creditors would get something, but he doubted whether the new ones would. A creditor observed that the bankrupt was a disgrace to thr Chinese, who were asnally honest fellows. The Chinaman was i man whose word was his bond, and this man had brought disrepute to an honourable part of the trading community. In fairness to the bankrupt's countrymen they ought to see that he was punished. The man was and absconded. They ought to prevent him doing the same thing again. He hadlost his money racing. In answer to a question as to whether he had any offer to pay off his Eketahuna debts, the bankrupt, through his interpreter, said he had no offer to make. The money for the ousiness had been advanced to him. A creditor: "He seems to be a professional bankrupt." The difficulty was pointed out that to eeize the present business on behalf of the old creditors would make a third bankruptcy. A creditor: "What we want to do is to prevent this man trading again." It was decided by the creditors to prosecute the bankrupt under tha penal clauses of the Act. Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1922, Page 4