PEARCE DIVORCE CASE

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 87, 9 October 1920, Page 6

PEARCE DIVORCE CASE

FURTHER ADJOURNMENT GRANTED

The Pearce divorce case and it;s complications arising from the departure of the respondent, George Pearce, ex-M.P. for Fatea, with his daughter Hazel, allegedly in direct contravention to tha orders of the Court, was mentioned again at the Supreme Court in Chambers before the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, this morning, but after hearing counsel his Honour further adjourned consideration of the question of the application for a writ of attachment till 30th inst...

Mr. M. Myers, for the petitioner, Margaret Pearce, said that Mr. W. J. Treadwell, solicitor for the respondent, had informed him that certain letters sent to Pearce had been returned through the Dead-letter Office, and, that being so, Mr. Treadwell thought that there might have been some misunderstanding on Pearce's part that he would be given sufficient time in connection with the proceedings to return to New Zealand. As the criticisms might be somewhat harsh, it seemed fairer to say what he (counsel) had to say when Pearce returned to New Zealand. He was not, however, making any admission that there was a misunderstanding, but would give him the benefit of the doubt. Mr. Treadwell had undertaken to attempt to communicate with Pearce by cable, and counsel had agreed to an adjournment to 30th inst. on the understanding that Mr. Treadwell should endeavour to ascertain whether Pearce would be back in New Zealand by 10th December.

Mr. Treadwell replied that in consequence of correspondence received from Pearce he had come to the conclusion that there was a possibility, perhaps a probability, that Pearce had not received certain letters from counsel, and it might be unfair if any proceedings involving his liberty were dealt with in his absence, when he may have an explanation. He had no • doubt that if Pearce received his cable he would return to New Zealand.

His Honour accordingly adjourned the proceedings.