G (1) 2
Fees.
In
5. The Official Receiver's commission amounted to $19,306.57 showing a decrease of $26,388.75 compared with the previous year. The commission in 1936 was abnormally high because of the failure of the Bank of Canton Ltd. In 1937 there were no large failures. Possession fees collected by the Official Receiver and paid to the Registrar of the Supreme Court amounted to $1,128.00 as against $1,220.00 for 1936.
Discharges.
6. Four bankrupts were discharged during the year, one discharge was absolute, one was subject to suspension for one month, one to suspension for three months, and one was subject to consent to judgment for $1,000.00. No applications for discharge were refused.
General.
7. During the year under review dividends were paid in twenty-four cases. In only one of these cases was the petition filed in 1937. In seven estates the court granted releases to the Official Receiver from trusteeship. The court made eight orders for destruction of books no longer required. There are nine cases in bankruptcy in which bankrupt salaried employees pay instalments and it is customary to pay dividends on account as soon as the assets are sufficient to pay ten per cent.
Staff.
8. Mr. J. J. Hayden, Official Receiver, was transferred to Kenya and promoted to the bench. He left the Colony on 6th March 1937. Mr. L. R. Andrewes was appointed Official Receiver on the 9th October 1937, and Mr. J. B. Prentis acted as Official Receiver during the interval.
9. Comparative figures for the years 1936 and 1937 are given below.
Year Petitions for winding-up BANKRUPTCY 1937 2 1 14 9 5 14 8 11 0 1 1936 3 2 13 12 1 6 0 1 6 0 2 1 0COMPANIES LIQUIDATION