MAINTENANCE DEFAULTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1937, Page 2

MAINTENANCE DEFAULTER

ARRESTED AFTER TEN YEARS. The old tag about “the long arm of the law’’ could be quoted in connection with a case which came before Mr J. M. Bunt, J.P., at the Magistrate’s Court, Greymouth, to-day. In 1927, at Christchurch, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Richard Patrick Neylon, for failing to provide adequate maintenance for his five children. Neylon could not be found, and it was thought that he had left for Australia. He was gone, but not forgotten. The ten-years-old warrant was executed at Waiuta, yesterday, where Neylon was located by Constable Wilson, and arrested. The story was-told to-day by Sergeant J. Isbister, who pointed out that defendant had been living under an assumed name, as Dick Naylor, The sergeant made an application that defendant be remanded to appear at Christchurch, next Tuesday. Mr T. F. Brosnan, who appeared for defendant, opposed the police application, and asked that Neylon be dealt with by the S.M. at Greymouth, on Monday. The warrant had been out for years, and counsel was informed that the youngest child was now 18 or 19 years of age, so that, for the past two or three years, there had been no obligation upon defendant t-Q pay any maintenance. Neylon was now. 63 years of age. He was upder medical treatment, and had a slight operation yesterday. He should not be remanded to Christchurch, if that could possibly be avoided. Mr Brosnan pointed out that, under Section 61, sub-section 3 of the Destitute Persons’ Act, there was power for the S.M. to. deal with a man who was senbonced to imprisonment for disobedience of an order. In the case before the Court, some of the children in respect of whoih the order was made, now desired defendant to live with them. Neylon had been advised to apply for a miner’s pension, and it was clear that a considerable amount, if not all, of the arrears of maintenance would be cancelled. Mr Brosnan urged that, in tile circumstances, defendant should be dealt with at Greyinouth on Monday. 5 . After considering what the, police and counsel had said, stated Mr Bunt, and in view of the, facts that defendant had not paid anything for many years, and his wife and family were in Christchurch, he would be remanded to appear there On Tuesday next.