Reputed Owner

Reputed owner, one who has, to all appearances, the right and actual possession of property. By the Bankruptcy Act, 1914, s. 38-an enactment which repeats with little variation the successive enactments on the subject dating from the reign of James I, it is provided that all goods being at the commencement of the bankruptcy in the possession, order, or disposition of the bankrupt, in his trade or business, by the consent and permission of the true owner, under such circumstances that he is reputed owner thereof, pass to his trustee. As to the conduct of the owner, see Simeons v. Durand, (1928) 2 KB 66, and see Law of Distress Amendment Act, 1908, s. 4, enabling a landlord to distrain on goods comprised in any bill of sale, hire-purchase agreement, or settlement made by a tenant or on goods in the possession, order and disposition of such tenant by the consent and permission of the true owner under such circumstances that such tenant is the owner thereof. See HIRE-PURCHASE.