Ejected Wife For Wearing Slacks

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29916, 1 September 1962, Page 12

Ejected Wife For Wearing Slacks

(Neu> Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, August 31

Mr M. C. Astley, S.M., said today he found both “fantastic and unacceptable” evidence that a husband ejected his wife from his house because she was wearing clothing of which he did not approve.

The Magistrate convicted Malcolm Ronald Church, aged 42. a cartage contractor, of assaulting his wife. Beatrice Alma Church, and fined him £l5 with costs.

Church (Mr M. Robinson) pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate's Court at Auckland.

Mrs Church said in evidence that she was separated from her husband. who had custody of her younger children. She went to the house on the evening of July 14 to see them.

As she entered the house, she said, her husband “pounced" on her and pushed her out of the door. When she refused to leave the property he pushed her toward the gate causing her to fall in mud, soiling her clothes.

Her husband shouted: “Call on your God now, and see what He’s like,” said Mrs Church. He accused her of smoking and going to the pictures, she said, and challenged her religious beliefs. Accused smelt of liquor at the time. Mrs Church said her husband was a member of the Exclusive Brethren.

She said she used to belong to th? sect but “they considered me a woman not fit to be in their fellowship."

She said she was wearing slacks at the time of the alleged offence. To Mr Robinson Mrs Church said she did not know her husband disapproved of women who wore slacks. “The children w-on't have anything to do with me," she said in cross-examination, “because I am not an Exclusive Brethren. They run away from me ar.d once even returned a birthday card I sent." Defence Claim Mr Robinson submitted that Mrs Church had been legally separated from her husband, and therefore had no legal right to be on the property. He said that, earlier this year, she entered the house illegally on two occasions. Mr Robinson said Church did not strike his wife. He only pushed her out of the

property, help.ng her up when she fell down. Church, in evidence, said: “She knows I have disapproved of women wearing slacks ever since I was converted two years ago." The Magistrate said Mrs Church gave every evidence of sincerity in her wish to see her children. "His reason for not wanting her back—because she was dressed in clothing he did not approve of—l find most fantastic and unacceptable.” he said.

“If his attitude toward her was what he said it was, he could have escorted her to the back door and left it at that. Instead, he continued to aggravate the situation.”