NOT CHIEF DIVORCE AGENT

Evening Star, Issue 23350, 21 August 1939, Page 8

NOT CHIEF DIVORCE AGENT

JUDGE DN DODGING HUSBANDS SEPARATION AGREEMENT NOT FULLY EFFECTIVE [Pee United Press Association.] HAMILTON, August 21. “ I um not the chief divorce agent for half the wives and dodging busbauds in New Zealand who regard divorce as a matter of convenience.” said Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court, 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 divorce from Isobel Louis© Tye. Evidence that the parties had been living apart was given by the maintenance officer, Mr M'Cormadk, who was introduced to the affair when 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 roan cannot fake out the parts that suit him and just ignore the others in respect of such an agreement. If the agreement had been 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. I am not 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.