MAXIMUM PENALTY

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 November 1925, Page 3

MAXIMUM PENALTY

FOR DEFAULTING HUSBAND

Persistent disregard—to the . extent

I of £386/3/4 —of a maintenance or I der made, for the support of his wifi ! and four children, has earned foi Alexander Grant, of Greymouth, th( maximum penalty under the Destituti Persons’ Act. Unless Grant pays £! ; within seven days, and £1 per weeli thereafter, he will be given hare labour at Paparua. Prison for six months. \ Relating the circumstances to Mr W. Meldrum, S.M.,- at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, Mr. W. P. McCarthy, who appeared for Grant’s wife, described the case as one that was well-known to the Court. The parties were married in 1911, and before the war broke out in 1914, there were three cltildren. Defendant deserted his wife about 1916, and after some months she heard that he was at the front. He returned to New Zealand in 1919. The parties lived together for three or four months, and subsequently another child was born. Complainant did everything she pos ■ sibly could to help her husband, , but he again deserted her, arid had made no effort to help her. She had no means of support, and for some yea? 8 past had had to rely on charitable aid. Defendant was known to have held several good positions, but had left them of his own accord after working a few weeks. His average payments to his wife during the whole of the time had averaged not more than ten shillings every six weeks. He put up the same tale every time, that he was unable to work owing to war injuries. Complainant, said Mr. McCarthy, had suffered a terrible lot during her life with defendant, and he had treated her badly the whole way through. Defendant had been given every opportunity, therefore the maximum penalty was now asked for. If he were sent to goal for six months the complainant might obtain the money he earned while fc prison. Defendant should be made to realise his responsibilities. Looking through the records, the Magistrate remarked that the last order, made on February 27, was for £1 per week, and varied a previous " order. How much had Grant paid since February? “Very little, sir,” replied Mr. McCarthy. “Only a few pounds. During the past three months he has. paid about ten shillings.” The maximum penalty was imposed, to be suspended so long as Grant (who did not appear) makes the payments previously described. An order was also made that Grant’s earnings in prison, if he went there, Should be paid to his wife.