“A SCANDALOUS THING”

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 148, 10 March 1923, Page 12

“A SCANDALOUS THING”

YOUNG WIFE DESERTED. “It is a deliberate attempt to evade your responsibility,” said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., to Alexander Johnston, aged 26, a seaman by occupation, who appeared in the Magistrate’s Courtyesterday morning, charged with leaving the Dominion without making provision for tho maintenance of his young wife and child, “and if the charge hail non been modified against you I would have sentenced you to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Hav'« you anything to say?” Prisoner: Nothing. Mr. Hunt: I shouldn’t think you had. Senior Sergeant Bird: She has had to go to work and put her baby out to board. Mr. Hunt: It is a scandalous thing. The wife, a frail little woman, having given evidence that she paid. £1 a week board for the child and paid her own keep also out of her wages*, the prisoner was questioned as to th© wages he could earn and the possibility of his getting a shore job. At sea-'" he could earn £l6 13s. 4d. a month. He had worked at Ngahauranga four years ago. Mr. Hunt-: I will make an order for £2 a week, the first payment to be made this day week, and he must enter into a surety for £l5O that has will comply with the order. To the prisoner: If you don’t send her enough to keep her you’ll earn it in gaol. To tho Senior Sergeant: You had to get him from Melbourne? —“Yes?’ Prisoner: The captain of the ship— Mr. Hunt: Take him away.