PARTED PARENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 299, 15 December 1923, Page 12

PARTED PARENTS.

FIGHT FOR THEIR CHILD. MOTHERS TEARS IN COURT. "f took, her away liecause lier liitle nerves were shattered and so arc mine. The things her father lias done in front of her are not tit for any child to see."' tearfully sobbed Mrs. Annie Wheeler, at Auckland Supreme Court, where she was lo have 'brought Dora. her ten-year-old daughter, to-day, in compliance with a Court order obtained from his Honor. Mr. .Justice Heed, by her husband, Thomas Wheeler, carpenter. Auckland. Mr. West, for the husband, said he understood the child had not been brought from Christchureh. He therefore proposed to ask for an order that the writ of habeas corpus do issue. The mother had taken away the child pome months ago and her solicitors were informed that if necessary, mom, would be provided by the father to bring the mother and child to Auckland. The only result was that the mother came here, leaving the child, as ho understood, in the care of hei unmarried brother in Christchurch. She had no right to take the girl away Ja-st February without the father's c-onsent, and Vhe should have brought track the chile , when she knew of the Court proceedings. Counsel added that he understood the woman ha-d some property in C'hrisidiurch, which she might liavp made over to her "brother. Mr. Matthews, for the mother, eaid it could be shown, he thought, that «ihe was forced to take the step she took. The child was with the matron of a Home at Brighton, and letters ■showed that the little one was in very delicate health, lie had told Mrs. AVheeler to do her utmost to bring '%ack the child, but the Christchurch solicitors had wired that while the relations were willing to surrender the girl, they could not provide an escort io Auckland, and they asked expenses or the provision of an escort.

Mr. West pointed out that £5 had '■■ been offered. I Mr, (Matthews said the mother had I ha-d no maintenance money from her L husband for 12 months, and he had ! the sole uso of the house belonging 1 to the parties. I His Honor: Why did she not bring E the child when she came? \ Mr. Matthews: There was no one to \ maintain the girl. It was purely a ques- \ tion of money. The mother is quite pre--5 ■ pared to go and fetch the child forthwith. I The child is quite happy where she is. I Mr. AVest: In a letter it is stated, I ''The child is quite herself and gay after \ her parents left." Apparently two par- ' ents have been looking after her there. : Is there any explanation? i Mr. Matthews: I am not prepared to I give any. I Mr. West maintained that the father ? .must hare a chance of seeing his child. t His Ilonor: There is no doubt the I child has got to be brought here, bei'."cause my duty is to see what is in her i best interests and to decide the question : of custody. \ Mr. AVest said the father was prepared - to pay £10 travelling expenses, although } it was not admitted that Mrs. Wheeler i Mas altogether without money. I His Honor: If she has not the means i to bring the child that is a valid reason \ ,for not doing so, and there is nothing r to be gained in committing her to prison for failing to do so. Mr. Matthews said tiw mother was .31 years of age, and he suggested that the case be set down for Friday next instead of Thursday as proposed to ease the burden of travelling. His Honor agreed, and, addresing Mrs. i Wheeler, said that he would not have ; any nonsense about the matter; the child ; had to bo brought here.