Courts to be auxiliary to each other. Warrants of Commitment to prison. the courts respectively having jurisdiction in bankruptcy in the part of the United Kingdom where the orders may require to be enforced, and in the same manner in all respects as if the order had been made by the court required to enforce it in a case of bankruptcy within its own jurisdiction. 122. The High Court, the county courts, the courts having jurisdiction in bankruptcy in Scotland and Ireland, and every British court elsewhere having jurisdiction in bankruptcy or insolvency, and the officers of those courts respectively, shall severally act in aid of and be auxiliary to each other in all matters of bankruptcy, and an order of the court seeking aid, with a request to another of the said courts, shall be deemed sufficient to enable the latter court to exercise, in regard to the matters directed by the order, such jurisdiction as either the court which made the request, or the court to which the request is made, could exercise in regard to similar matters within their respective jurisdictions. 123.-(1) Any warrant of a court having jurisdiction in bankruptcy in England may be enforced in Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, and elsewhere in His Majesty's dominions, in the same manner and subject to the same privileges in and subject to which a warrant issued by any justice of the peace against a person for an indictable offence against the laws of England, may be executed in those parts of His Majesty's dominions respectively, in pursuance of the Acts of Parliament in that behalf. (2) A search warrant issued by a 'court having jurisdiction in bankruptcy for the discovery of any property of a debtor may be executed in manner prescribed or in the same manner and subject to the same privileges in and subject to which a search warrant for property supposed to be stolen may be executed according to law. 124. Where the court commits any person to prison, the commitment may be to such convenient prison as the court thinks expedient, and, if the gaoler of any prison refuses to receive any prisoner so committed, he shall be liable for every such refusal to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds. Married women. Exclusion of Application to limited partnerships. PART VI. SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS. Application of Act. 125. (1) Every married woman who carries on a trade or business, whether separately from her husband or not, shall be subject to the bankruptcy laws as if she were a feme sole. (2) Where a married woman carries on a trade or business and a final judgment or order for any amount has been obtained against her, whether or not expressed to be payable out of her separate property, that judgment or order shall be available for bankruptcy proceedings against her by a bankruptcy notice as though she were personally bound to pay the judgment debt or sum ordered to be paid. 126. A receiving order shall not be made against any corporation or against any partnership or association or company registered under the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, or any enactment repealed by that Act. 127. Subject to such modifications as may be made by general rules under this Act, the provisions of this Act shall apply to limited partnerships in like manner as if limited partnerships were ordinary partnerships, and, on all the general partners of a limited partnership being adjudged bankrupt, the assets of the limited partnership shall vest in the trustee 128. If a person having privilege of Parliament commits an act of Privilege of bankruptcy, he may be dealt with under this Act in like manner as if Parliament. he had not such privilege. 129. Where a petition is presented by or against a debtor, if the court is satisfied by affidavit or otherwise, or the official receiver reports to the court, that the property of the debtor is not likely to exceed in value three thundred pounds, the court may make an order that the debtor's estate be administered in a summary manner, and thereupon the provisions of this Act shall be subject to the following modifications:(i) If the debtor is adjudged bankrupt the official receiver shall be the trustee in the bankruptcy; (ii) There shall be no committee of inspection, but the official receiver may do with the permission of the Board of Trade all things which may be done by the trustee with the permission of the committee of inspection; (iii) Such other modifications may be made in the provisions of this Act as may be prescribed by general rules with the view of saving expense and simplifying procedure; but nothing in this section shall permit the modification of the provisions of this Act relating to the examination or discharge of the debtor. Provided that the creditors may at any time, by special resolution, resolve that some person other than the official receiver be appointed trustee in the bankruptcy, and thereupon the bankruptcy shall proceed as if an order for summary administration had not been made. Application of Act in case of small estates. 130.-(1) Any creditor of a deceased debtor whose debt would have Administration been sufficient to support a bankruptcy petition against the debtor, had in bankruptcy he been alive, may present to the court a petition in the prescribed form praying for an order for the administration of the estate of the deceased debtor, according to the law of bankruptcy. (2) Upon the prescribed notice being given to the legal personal representative of the deceased debtor, the court may, in the prescribed manner, upon proof of the petitioner's debt, unless the court is satisfied that there is a reasonable probability that the estate will be sufficient for the payment of the debts owing by the deceased, make an order for the administration in bankruptcy of the deceased debtor's estate, or may, upon cause shown, dismiss the petition with or without costs. (3) A petition for administration under this section shall not be presented to the court after proceedings have been commenced in any court of justice for the administration of the deceased debtor's estate, but that court may, when satisfied that the estate is insufficient to pay its debts, transfer the proceedings to the court exercising jurisdiction in bankruptcy, and thereupon the last-mentioned court may, in the prescribed manner, make an order for the administration of the estate of the deceased debtor, and the like consequences shall ensue as under an administration order made on the petition of a creditor. (4) Upon an order being made for the administration of a deceased debtor's estate, the property of the debtor shall vest in the official receiver of the court, as trustee thereof, and he shall forthwith proceed to realise and distribute it in accordance with the provisions of this Act. Provided that the creditors shall have the same powers as to appointment of trustees and committees of inspection as they have in other cases where the estate of a debtor is being administered or dealt with in bankruptcy, and the provisions of this Act, relating to trustees and committees of inspection, shall apply to trustees and committees of inspection appointed under the power so conferred. If no committee of inspection is appointed, any act or thing or any direction or permission which might have been done or given by a committee of inspection may be done or given by the Board of Trade. (5) With the modifications hereinafter mentioned, all the provisions of Part II. of this Act (relating to the administration of the property of a bankrupt) and, subject to any modification that may be made of estate of person dying insolvent. Outstanding bankruptcies under earlier enactments. therein by general rules under subsection eleven of this section, the following provisions, namely, section twenty-five of this Act (which relates to inquiries as to the debtor's conduct, dealings, and property); section eighty-three of this Act (which relates to the costs of trustees, managers, and other persons); section one hundred and twenty-nine of this Act (which relates to the summary administration of small estates); and subsection (4) of section ninety-three of this Act so far as it relates to the effect of the release of official receivers; shall, so far as the same are applicable, apply to the case of an administration order under this section in like manner as to an order of adjudication under this Act, and subsection (1) of section thirty-five of this Act shall apply as if for the reference to an order of adjudication there were substituted a reference to an administration order under this section. (6) In the administration of the property of the deceased debtor under an order of administration, the official receiver or trustee shall have regard to any claim by the legal personal representative of the deceased debtor to payment of the proper funeral and testamentary expenses incurred by him in and about the debtor's estate, and such claims shall be deemed a preferential debt under the order, and shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the provisions of this Act relating to the priority of other debts, be payable in full, out of the debtor's estate, in priority to all other debts. (7) If, on the administration of a deceased debtor's estate, any surplus remains in the hands of the official receiver or trustee, after payment in full of all the debts due from the debtor, together with the costs of the administration and interest as provided by this Act in case of bankruptcy, such surplus shall be paid over to the legal personal representative of the deceased debtor's estate, or dealt with in such other manner as may be prescribed. (8) Notice to the legal personal representative of a deceased debtor of the presentation by a creditor of a petition under this section shall, in the event of an order for administration being made thereon, be deemed to be equivalent to notice of an act of bankruptcy, and after such notice no payment or transfer of property made by the legal personal representative shall operate as a discharge to him as between himself and the official receiver or trustee; save as aforesaid nothing in this section shall invalidate any payment made or any act or thing done in good faith by the legal personal representative before the date of the order for administration. (9) A petition for the administration of the estate of a deceased debtor under this section may be presented by the legal personal representative of the debtor; and, where a petition is so presented by such a representative, this section shall apply subject to such modifications as may be prescribed by general rules made under subsection eleven of this section. (10) Unless the context otherwise requires, court," in this section, means the court within the jurisdiction of which the debtor resided or carried on business for the greater part of the six months immediately prior to his decease; creditor means one or more creditors qualified to present a bankruptcy petition as in this Act provided. 66 (11) General rules for carrying into effect the provisions of this section may be made in the same manner and to the like effect and extent as in bankruptcy. 131.-(1) The enactments set out in the Fourth Schedule of this Act, and re-enacted in the manner therein appearing, shall apply as respects debtors who have been adjudged bankrupt or whose affairs have been liquidated by arrangement under the Bankruptcy Act, 1869, or any previous Bankruptcy Act, and as respects proceedings under any such Act outstanding at the commencement of this Act. (2) Save as aforesaid, nothing in this Act shall affect such proceedings as aforesaid, but they shall continue, and the provisions of the Bankruptcy Act, 1869, or any previous Bankruptcy Acts, and any rules, orders, and tables of fees made thereunder, which were applicable to the case immediately before the commencement of this Act, shall continue to apply thereto as if this Act had not been passed. General Rules. 132. (1) The Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the President of the Board of Trade, make general rules for carrying into effect the objects of this Act. Provided that the general rules so made shall not extend the jurisIdiction of the court. (2) All general rules made under this section shall be laid before Parliament within three weeks after they are made if Parliament is then sitting, and, if Parliament is not then sitting, within three weeks after the beginning of the then next session of Parliament, and shall be judicially noticed, and shall have effect as if enacted by this Act. Fees, Salaries, Expenditure, and Returns. Power to make general rules. muneration. 133.-(1) The Lord Chancellor may, with the sanction of the Treasury, Fees and represcribe a scale of fees and percentages to be charged for or in respect of proceedings under this Act; and the Treasury shall direct by whom and in what manner they are to be collected and accounted for, and to what account they shall be paid. (2) The Board of Trade, with the concurrence of the Treasury, shall direct whether any and what remuneration is to be allowed to any officer of, or person attached to, the Board of Trade, performing any duties under this Act, and may vary, increase, or diminish such remuneration, as they may think fit. salaries, &c. 134. The Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Treasury, Judicial shall direct whether any and what remuneration is to be allowed to any person (other than an officer of the Board of Trade) performing any duties under this Act, and may vary, increase, or diminish such remuneration, as he may think fit. 135.-(1) The Treasury shall annually cause to be prepared and laid before both Houses of Parliament an account for the year ending with the thirty-first day of March, showing the receipts and expenditure during that year in respect of bankruptcy proceedings, whether commenced under this or any previous Act, and the provisions of section twenty-eight of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, 1875, shall apply to the account as if the account had been required by that section. (2) The accounts of the Board of Trade, under this Act, shall be audited in such manner as the Treasury direct, and for the purpose of the account to be laid before Parliament the Board of Trade shall make such returns and give such information as the Treasury may direct. Annual accounts expenditure in of receipts and respect of bankruptcy proceedings. 38 & 39 Vict. c. 77. officers, 136. The registrars and other officers of the courts acting in bank- Returns by ruptcy shall make to the Board of Trade such returns of the business of bankruptcy their respective courts and offices, at such times and in such manner and form as may be prescribed, and from such returns the Board of Trade shall cause books to be prepared which shall, under the regulations of the Board, be open for public information and searches. The Board of Trade shall also cause a general annual report of all matters, judicial and financial, within this Act, to be prepared and laid before both Houses of Parliament. Evidence. 137.-(1) A copy of the London Gazette containing any notice Gazette to be inserted therein in pursuance of this Act, shall be evidence of the facts evidence. stated in the notice. Evidence of proceedings at meetings of creditors. Evidence of proceedings in bankruptcy. Swearing of affidavits. Death of debtor or witness. Bankruptcy courts to have seals. Certificate of (2) The production of a copy of the London Gazette containing any notice of a receiving order, or of an order adjudging a debtor bankrupt, shall be conclusive evidence in all legal proceedings of the order having been duly made, and of its date. 138.-(1) A minute of proceedings at a meeting of creditors under this Act, signed at the same or the next ensuing meeting, by a person describing himself as, or appearing to be, chairman of the meeting at which the minute is signed, shall be received in evidence without further proof. (2) Until the contrary is proved, every meeting of creditors in respect of the proceedings whereof a minute has been so signed shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held, and all resolutions passed or proceedings had thereat to have been duly passed or had. 139. Any petition or copy of a petition in bankruptcy, any order or certificate or copy of an order or certificate made by any court having jurisdiction in bankruptcy, any instrument or copy of an instrument, affidavit, or document made or used in the course of any bankruptcy proceedings or other proceedings had under this Act, shall, if it appears to be sealed with the seal of any court having jurisdiction in bankruptcy, or purports to be signed by any judge thereof, or is certified as a true copy by any registrar thereof, be receivable in evidence in all legal proceedings whatever. 140. Subject to general rules, any affidavit to be used in a bankruptcy court may be sworn before any person authorised to administer oaths in the High Court, or in the Court of Chancery of the county palatine of Lancaster, or before any registrar of a bankruptcy court, or before any officer of a bankruptcy court authorised in writing in that behalf by the judge of the court, or before a justice of the peace for the county or place where it is sworn, or, in the case of a person residing in Scotland or in Ireland, before a judge ordinary, magistrate, or justice of the peace, or, in the case of a person who is out of the United Kingdom before a magistrate or justice of the peace or other person qualified to administer oaths in the country where he resides (he being certified to be a magistrate or justice of the peace, or qualified as aforesaid, by a British minister or British consul, or by a notary public).` 141. In the case of the death of the debtor or his wife, or of a witness whose evidence has been received by any court in any proceeding under this Act, the deposition of the person so deceased, purporting to be sealed with the seal of the court, or a copy thereof purporting to be so sealed, shall be admitted as evidence of the matters therein deposed to. 142. Every court having jurisdiction in bankruptcy under this Act shall have a seal describing the court in such manner as may be directed by order of the Lord Chancellor, and judicial notice shall be taken of the seal, and of the signature of the judge or registrar of any such court, in all legal proceedings. 143. A certificate of the Board of Trade that a person has been appointment of appointed trustee under this Act shall be conclusive evidence of his trusteg. appointment. Proceedings of 144.--(1) All documents purporting to be orders or certificates made or issued by the Board of Trade, and to be sealed with the seal of the Board, or to be signed by a secretary or assistant secretary of the Board, or any person authorised in that behalf by the President of the Board, shall be received in evidence, and deemed to be such orders or certificates without further proof unless the contrary is shown. (2) A certificate signed by the President of the Board of Trade that any order made, certificate issued, or act done, is the order, certificate, or act of the Board of Trade shall be conclusive evidence of the fact so certified. |