INTO THE STREETS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 109, 4 November 1926, Page 12

INTO THE STREETS

INTOJHE^STREETS A COUNSEL'S PLEA ECHO OF UNIQUE CASE. An echo of the recent case in which Lady fctuart-Forbes claimed maintenance for herself and her three children, who-were then under sixteen,, from her husband, Sir Charles, Stuart Forbes, a launch-owner at Picton, was heard in the Magistrate's Court to-day. When proceedings were first taken on 23rd August it was stated by counsel for Lady Stuart-Forbes that she and her children had been left destitute and were sometimes forced to gather shellfish on the beach to eke out an existence. She had come to Wellington, and had accepted the proposal of a Mr Robert Thompson that she should live with him in return for a home for herself and children. To-day Thompson was proceeded against for the recovery of £9, a debt incurred in 1924. In the box he admitted that he was the man who was living with Lady Forbes. _ Mr. W. E. Leicester (for the plaintiff): "All your money has been going to her and her children?"—" Yes." "Do you know she has taken proceedings for maintenance?" "Yes." "Do you know that there is a possibility of some of the children goin^ away?"—"l don't know." ° "You don't know that two of the children may go away?"—" Certainly, I know about that." "If the two children go, you will have only Lady Forbes and one child to supportl''—'' Yes.'' "You are not married to her, and there is no need for you to continue living with her."—"l hope to marry her when I can." "She relies on you alone for her support. Do you know that she has been working and earning money herself?" —"Probably; she works and earns a little." To Mr. A. B. Sievwright, his counsel, defendant said that he earned £4 6s per week, and had to pay £2 5s as rent. 'Mr. Sievwright: "He could put out this woman and her children into the streets, but surely the Court would not countenance such a procedure in the circumstances. She and her children were left destitute and deserted, and Thompson's conduct is a matter of commendation rather than of contumely. It has not been proved that he has sufficient money to pay this debt." Mr. Leicester: "He lias no family. We have only to prove that he has sufficient for his own keep. He might have half a dozen mistresses and keep out of paying' all his legal debts." The Magistrate (Mr. E. Page, S.M.) decided that Thompson should pay off the amount at the rate of 10s per week.

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