DIVORCE ON GROUNDS OF SEPARATION

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22795, 22 August 1939, Page 4

DIVORCE ON GROUNDS OF SEPARATION

JUDGE’S COMMENT ON HAMILTON ACTION

tPEESS ASSOCIATION TBEIOBAM.) HAMILTON, August 21. . “I am not chief divorce agent for half the wives and dodging husbands in New Zealand who regard divorce as a matter of convenience,” said Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court at Hamilton, when referring to a divorce action in which the petitioner proceeded on the grounds of a separation agreement. The case to which his Honour referred was one in which Walter Lisle Tye, a grader driver, of Tauranga, sought a divorce from Isobel Louise Tye. Evidence that the parties had been living apart was given by the maintenance officer (Mr M v MacCor-. mack), who was introduced to the affair when the petitioner failed to pay maintenance. “As far as the petitioner is concerned the agreement has not been in full force and effect, for he has not completely complied with it,” said his Honour. “A man cannot take out the parts that suit him and just ignore the others in respect of such an agreement. If the agreement had been in full force the maintenance officer would not haVe come into the picture at all. I have no patience with men’who try to dodge -their responsibilities. lam hot the chief divorce agent for half the wives and'dodging husbands in New’ Zealand, for the petitioner seems to be one of the latter,” The case was stood down to. allow the solicitor.to confer with his principals in Tauranga,