DESERTED WIFE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18968, 5 April 1927, Page 5

DESERTED WIFE.

ORDER FOR MAINTENANCE. "AN OFFICER IN THE FLYING CORPS." [THt. PBBSS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, April 4. "I have not a relative or friend in the Dominion, not a soul I can fall back on," was the statement- made in the Magistrate's Court to-day .by a young married woman, Hannah Ida Aitchison, in applying for a maintenance order against her Samuel Henry Aitchison, of Wellington, a Corporation employee. The complainant said that she met Aitchison in England when he was an officer in the • Royal Flying Corps. J There' were three children of the marriage. "He brought me put to New Zealand, and then deserted me," she declared. She had been, forced -to go out to service to'maintain herself, <ihe said, and in spite of repeated requests that her husband should make a home for her in Wellington, he had refused to consider the suggestion. Recently h© had been left some money, and he proposed to make this over to his mother who already was well to do and had a large family to support her. lne defendant had left her and the three voung children penniless in Opunake last year in order to get work, and she had not heard from him for six months , , , , j, . . Aitchison.said that he had told his wife to wait until he could afford a home, but she was always worrying him. Ho was in debt and was paying £4 a month for two of the children, who were in a home. His salary was £4 5s a week Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M.: What about the.three young children? Has it occurred to you that you might sink your selfish motives for their sake. J Are you "oing to deprive them of a home and allow them to bo brought up in a State institution? The defendant did riot reply. Mr Salmon: You won't attempt to make a home for your wife?—l told her I would do my best. I told her to wait, but she won't. _ Mr Salmon: M r Aitchison. you may have heard the expression "an officer and a gentleman." Well, you may have been an officer— - An order was made for the payment of£l 10s per week.