orders were made during the year, classified according to trades and occupations. The estimated liabilities totalled $21,950,872 and the estimated assets $4,334,311. These estimates are based on information given by the debtors and are seldom reliable indications of the true position.
Comparison with Previous Years
117. Table XXV sets out for the purpose of comparison the numbers of bankruptcies and compulsory liquidations in the years from 1960-61 to 1969-70 together with the aggregate amounts of the estimated liabilities and assets. This shows that 1969-70 had the lowest number of cases since 1964-65, and that the estimated liabilities and assets were the second lowest in the same period.
Pre-war Bankruptcy Cases
118. There were only two pre-war cases left on hand at the end of the year. In one of these a dividend was paid during the year and only formal closure proceedings were required.
Dividends paid
119. Payments to preferential creditors and dividends to unsecured creditors were paid in nine bankruptcies and five windings-up, whilst in one winding-up a return of capital to contributories was effected.
Public Examinations and Court Work
120. Four Public Examinations and one Private Examination were held. Altogether, Legal Officers of the Department appeared in Court and in Chambers on 143 occasions in connection with bankruptcies and liquidations.
Cases Concluded
121. Twenty-two cases were concluded, eleven bankruptcies and eleven compulsory liquidations, and the Official Receiver was duly released from trusteeship and from the office of liquidator.
Previous cases still outstanding
122. One hundred bankruptcies and one hundred and seven com- pulsory liquidations, including the cases mentioned in the preceding paragraph, were carried over from previous years, but in forty-three bankruptcies and forty-seven compulsory liquidations either a final
38
!