TOO LAZY TO CHANGE CLOTHES

NZ Truth, Issue 1293, 18 September 1930, Page 5

TOO LAZY TO CHANGE CLOTHES

" I Have Had To Ask Him To.Wash His Feet" Says Wife In Odd Story of Hubby's Indolence LITTLE DENIES ASSAULTS AND LAZINESS (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) An odd story of her husband's alleged laziness was told by Mrs. Audrey Little when she applied, m the Auckland Magistrate's Court, to Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M. , for separation,maintenance, and the guardianship of her children, alleging that her husband, George Harold Little, was incorrigibly idle. Little denied his. wife's charges, and declared that the trouble had arisen because she would not settle down to home life. Mr. Cutten, however, found m Mrs. Little's favor.

OPENING, the case, Mr. Selwyn Clarke, who appeared m the interests of the wife, stated to his Worship that one. of the main grounds on which Mrs. Little based her application, was the alleged laziness of the husband. "The wife statesHhat this state of affairs has led to quarrels," continued Mr. Clarke, "which m turn have led to cruelty." TAMES EDWARD BRADLEY, a rent J collector, stated that the couple had been occupying a house m Point 'Chevalier, the rent of which he had collected m the course of his duties. He went for the rent, he said, every Tuesday, and usually arrived shortly after 9 a.m. When they left they owed about £5/12/- m rent. Audrey Little, the wife, a freshcomplexioned woman, who did not look as though she had been married for nine years, said she had been married m 1921 and was the mother of three children. Asked by Mr. Clarke what was/ the root of the trouble which had caused her to leave her husband, she said that it was idleness. "He refuses to work," declared Mrs. Little. "If he doesn't wish , to work, he won't and he tells me he won't, too." Mr. Clarke: Can you give us any examples of this? — Yes. He won't get up till 9 or even 10 m the- morning, then when he does get up, he makes tea. He may then go out till twelve jo'clock, after which he will make more tea,, though he may not go out at all till about twelve. He will be home by two m the afternoon and he stays home. Now, as to' some actual lnzinas-s? — Well, after shaving m the morning, he will leave his shaving water and even leave the soap on the brush. Does he change his clothes? — Sometimes only every three weeks. I can only say that it is indolence. ,Will he have a bath without your assistance?— Sometimes not unless 1 turn it on. I have had to ask him to wash his feet. After 1927 they went to Hastings and then Napier. "I asked him to change his shirt and he refused)" Mrs. Little told the court. "A row started, and he struck Yne across the face and asked what the ■ it had to do with me?" Mr. Clarke: Where did you. go to after that? — Palmerston North. We left there with a rent of £10 owing. Where then? — After that he went to Wellington. He then sent" you and the children up to' Auckland? — Yes. Mrs. Little said that they had shifted from place to place. "There was rent owing at most of them," she added. They went to live m Point Chevalier, she said, m 1929. Questioned by her counsel concerning an alleged assault, she stated that her husband was working at the time it occurred. ' "He came home one Friday night and said his wages had not been paid," declared Mrs. Little. "I said I didn't believe him and would go to the place where he worked and see. Later, I took the wages oirt of his pocket, and a quarrel arose, during which he gave me a blow m the chest with his fist." Mr. Clarke: Did he ever tell you he was working when he was not? — Yes. He told me he was working at one place. I went to see a man there to thank him for giving my husband a job, and was told that he had not got one at all. Describing the various moves of the family since they went to live m Point Chevalier m 1929, the wife stated that they v had lived m one house for six months. "The rent there was paid irregularly," she said, "and there was about £7/10/- owing when we left." She then named three other houses m which they had subsequently lived, and said that there was rent owing for all of them.

Asked how much work her husband had done since they, first went to live m Point Chevalier, Mrs. Little asserted that the total was very small indeed. Mr. Clarke: In, hetween whiles was he looking for work?' — No. I don't think he was. When I looked for work I was out at seven m the morning. Describing an incident which she alleged occurred shortly after. her husband purchased a car, Mrs. Little stated that she had happened to notice him painting the number" plate black. "When I pointed out to him how foolish it was," she said, "he knocked me about the face, and then knocked me down." Mr. Clarke: Were, you struck again as the result of a quarrel about the car? — Yes; there was a second quarrel about the car. NoW, you moved again to another place. Were there assaults there? — Yes, two. He came home about 12, and said there was a job at £3/10/---clearing a section for a fortnight. He came home to ask my advice about

taking it, and I told him to certainly take it. Three days later he came home again, and said there was a job at £15, another one. Had he been to the first one? — No. I asked him why he hadn't taken the first job. And there was a quarrel? — Yes. What did he do? — He smacked my face, closed his fist, and punched me. I .was on the floor before I knew where I was. And the last time you were struck was how long before you left him? — The day before. "He said he wouldn't work for £ 3/10/-, and we quarrelled then," she, said, striving to control the emotion m her voice. "I asked him why he wouldn't try to get a- job, and he told me that if he wanted to work he would, and if not, he wouldn't." "And what did he do to you?" interrupted Mr. Clarke. "He took hold of me by the shoulders," continued Mrs. Little, "smacked my face, and, clenching his fist, he struck me all over the body. That finished me, and I left the next day." Mr. Clarke: Have you been getting charitable aid? — For three years. To what extent? — Sixteen shillings a week. Cross-examined by Mr. Singer, Mrs. Little stated that for some time after her marriage she stayed m Wellington, and th^n' came to Auckland. Mr. Singer: Your husband states that you never wanted to settle down to married life?— -That is not so. He further states that even as far back as 1923 you were always going to dances and visiting? — Neither is that true. Asked by Mr. Singer whether, when her husband was driving an ambulance at Whangarei, he had not sent her all that he was then earning, which amounted to £2 a week, Mrs. Little admitted that he had done so. Mr. Singer: And didn't you go to him because you wanted to be with him ?— No. After six weeks you came back? — Yes. There was no option. Your husband will state that throughout your married life you have had a bad temper? — Is it any wdnder." And you also have a habit of throwing things at your husband? — Not at all. It is the other way round. After he came back to Auckland he got a job with the Auckland Meat Company, earning £5 a week or more? — Yes. He said he had- to give that up owing to his back. He was lazy; that was his trouble. Later he got another job? — Yes. He gave that up before I knew anything about it. He says that once when he objected to yotf going to Dixieland you kicked him about the shins? — Not true. He will also state that the same night you had a row about some keys and the neighbors came to see what was the matter? — No. Replying to a further allegation that when living m Gisborne she would sometimes stay out till 10.30 and 11 m the evening, and then refuse to tell her husband where she had been,- Mrs. Little stated that that also was unI true. "I was going to the pictures and he knew it," she said.

"The husband again states," commented Mr. Singer, "that even m 1927 the wife was always wanting to go out to dances and didn't like it when her husband objected." • • • Asked how many nights a week she would go out! Mrs. Little' stated that it would be about two.. Mr. Singer: He will say 'that you go out and come home about 11.30 or 12 at night, and leave him to manage the children? — That is a lie. "I believe you admit that on one occasion you threw a cup at your husband?" asked Mr. Clarke, at this stage of the proceedings, and was told by the wife that such was the case. Sobbing bitterly, she then recounted the actual details of the circumstance. "He would drink about 25 cups of tea a day," she told Mr. Clarke, "and there would not even be milk for the children." Mr. Clarke: Mr. Singer says that he has had eight months' work since Christmas?: — How could he have done. What about the work he has had at Millers-m ill at Parnell?-^He is not working there now. I ' have proof that he is not. Is the work there permanent?— Oh, no. He gets it every three months when the boat comes m". How long aoes it last? — Two or three weeks. Mrs. Little's sister, Mrs. Ethel Owen, then entered the box and gave evidence on her sister's behalf. She stated that husband and wife had stayed with her subsequent to the reconciliation m 1927. They then went to Hastings, stated Mrs. Owen, and the next she* heard of them was a telegram from Little, reading: "Expect Audrey at station." Mr. Clarke: You went to the station to meet your sister ?— Well, to be quite candid, I didn't. My husband didn't believe that he would send them back after we had been told that they would not be brought back to us again. The first thing I knew after getting the telegram was seeing my sister and the children at. my front door. Now,* when he got. back he came to your house nearly every day for a fortnight?— Yes. He was always talking about jobs and letters he was expecting. At what time would he come?— About 10 m the morning, sometimes earlier. And what then?— He would have some tea, go out, then come back later, and have some more tea. I always got him away before 4.30. Do you remember going out to Point Chevalier to see them? — Yes. Were they on charitable aid at the time?— They were. And got it regularly? — -Yes, about once a week. „-.-,.,..., Mr. Singer has suggested that Little has worked eight months since Christmas. Is that true?— How could it be? It is most untrue. After she left her husband, she came to you? — Yes. Had she any marks? — She was red and inflamed about the lips. Cross-examined by Mr. Singer, Mrs. Owen admitted that her sister had a bad temper. "In fact,", contended Mr. Singer, "she gets worked up into a bad temper very quickly and stays so for a long time?" "Not for a long time," retorted Mrs. Owen. Mr. Singer: You have known her throw things at her husband? — Yes, once.- It was years, ago: Any other time?— Yes; once before they had any-^babies; -VVHave you ever seen such an occurrence yourself?— No V ■",-. . Neither, said Mrs. Owen,- had her sister told hex-. , In a brief address to the Bench, Mr. Singer traced the history of the affair m its early stages. "In August of this year," said Mr. Singer, "Mrs. Little left her husband the morning he got work. He had got the work the week' before, but was uncertain when he would start. When he came home from work on the. evening of the day he started he found the house * cleared of furniture and family." Regarding the allegation that the family had received 97 weeks' char-

itable aid, Mr. Singer stated that Little was prepared to admit that he knew his wife had been receiving such help for a few weeks when he was out cf work, but would deny that he knew she had been getting it as extensively as was stated. "Further," contended Mr. Singer, ."Little alleges that since returning, his wife has led him a dog's life, going out night after night, never saying where she w,as going, and leaving him to do the washing-up and mind the children." In support of Little's- contention that he had done much more work than his wife had stated, Mr. Singer gave details of the work Little said he had done. Little was quite prepared to keep the children, and had written his

i wife to that effect, but she had not replied. : Entering the witness-box, Little J stated that for six months of 1929 he had been employed by a motor firm at a salary of £4/19/- a week. That I job finished m July of last year. From July till December of the same year, I he said, he had followed various occupations and gave details of the work j done. From the beginning of March till the third week m July of this year, he stated, he had been consistently employed, and had been earning £3/12/---a week. He was then out of work for two or three weeks, after which he began work with a hardwood firm, and had been employed continuously by them until the present time. He gave his wages, he contended, to his wife. Mr. Singer: Your Wife said something about. you giving her a thrashing on the Monday. Is that true? — No. I have never' hit my wife. What about the blow on the chest, that she said you gave her? Well, I remember her taking up a kettle of boiling water to throw at me, and I had to take hold of her to prevent her doing it. I did not strike her. I , remember her once • throwing an inkwell at me. With regard to her habits of going out at night, will you just tell his Worship, what she has been doing? — For months past she has been going out at night. She would come home and make tea, and go but again. Sometimes she would put the little boy to bed. . y How many nights a week would this happen? — Every night.

Denials

\ .Week " after )weekya,nd' month after month?— -Yesl'^XSll^^e'trfed' to find qnt where she igVgoii^ and can't do>, so. For. weeks pastStjiliave had to do'; the washing-up, helpM^by my little boy V Concerning -the^aJlegation that his wife had recei^ed.xniiiety-seven weeks' sustenance, Little -stated that he could not account for at. He, admitted, that he knew that she had had a littie— about seven Weeks m all, he thought. Under cross-examination by Mr. Clarke, Little reiterated his contention i <that he had b.ee^i^brking from -March 'to July of thi^y^Bur.% - Mr. Clarke: I suggest to you that it was m May that the work finished? — ■ Well, you have a certificate there. : Mr. Clarke #hen produced- aX letter from the Lab or. Department -concerning a complaint made by Little, and commented on the fact" that it was dated m the month of June. "Do you deny that charitable aid kept you from January -till March of this year?" asked Mr. Clarke. "Certainly I do," replied Little. And also from May. .tilJ;;September? —I was working a lot'of ---'that time. :• The Charitable "Aid Board informs me that they kept you" the whole time m 1929, except from January till- April? —No. After I left the motor company, I had a lof of small jobs. Will you deny that from the end of. January, 1928, until September, 1930, you were provided with 97 weeks' sustenance ? — Yes. My wife may have asked for sustenance ,when she was not by me. Do you deny that you struck your wife on the Monday before you left? — • I do.. .. >' Vcv X: ■ .■ .- ' r Asked^ where she had received the. cufs^and bruises which were alleged to have been seen on her face. Little said that .he was unabfe to account for it. He also denied that he had "hammered" his wife while the little girl held on to his legs. "I left home at 7.30 and did not see the wife till I returned m the evening/ stated Little. Little further denied that there had been any quarrels between himself and his wife because he wouldn't change his clothes. "I always . kept myself clean, when possible," he said, m answer to Mr. Clarke's question. Were there times when it was not possible, then? — Only when there were no clean clothes to put on. Was that because your wife was lazy?-r-No, but she was too busy going out to see other people. Regarding the amounts for board which, it had been said, were left owing m the various, places to which they had been, Little claimed that he didn't know that most of it was owing at all, though he admitted he knew that there had been board due when the family left Palmerston North. Re-examined by Mr. Singer, he again, affirmed that if his wife had been receiving charitable aid, it had been entirely without his knowledge. Mr. Singer: You actually wrote to the Charitable Aid Board?— Yes. I said I was m a position, and was able to keep her and the children. What furniture did she take when she went? — Everything. She left only a few things of mine. Had she taken all the beds? — There was not enough left to even make a cup of tea. Little's present landlady was then called.'' She stated that she had only known him for five weeks, but testified as to the cleanliness of his .personal habits during the time he had been with her. " . _ Delivering judgment, Mr. Cutten stated that he had listened very carefully to . all the evidence, and had come to the conclusion that a large proportion of the wife's evidence was correct. "I am of the opinion that these two are better apart," he remarked. "The wife alleges cruelty and laziness and the husband denies it. As soon as the husband got into the box, I listened very carefully, but I feel sure that a large proportion of the wife's evidence is correct. Ninety-seven weeks' sustenance m 2 years is inexcusable, and to say that it was without his knowledge is absurd." His Worship. . then made orders for separatipn, maintenance and guardian - ship. Maintenance was fixed at 35/---a week, Mr. Singer and Mr. Clarke being unanimous m their opinion that it would be useless to fix a large amount.