ABOLISHED FOR EVER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 March 1926, Page 9

ABOLISHED FOR EVER.

BEATING OF WIVES. AN OFFENDER PUNISHED. “We have got past the days when a man could beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb,” said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland during the hearing of a charge of assault. “No provocation justifies a man. in striking his wife. ’ ’ Wm. Edgar Basham (28), represented by Mr. Bryce Hart, was charged with assaulting Christina Elizabeth Basham, his wife.

Mr; Sel. Clarke said he had been instructed by Mrs. Basham to file an application for a separation order. The j wife stated in evidence that the assault took place on February 13. She had been out to a dance on the previous night. Basham came to the hall to meet her, but she did not go home with him. She went home “on her own.’’ On returning home, Basham started to argue with her. They did not go to bed, but argued all night through, continuing till the next day. During the forenoon, Basham kicked her, and she remembered nothing more. She was sent to the hospital, where she remained for ten days, owing to injuries to her face and body. Mr. Hart: You applied for a separation order two years ago?—Yes. And you were told you hadn’t got a chance?—l didn’t get it.

As a matter of fact, you were told to go and look after the children. Counsel stated that Basham did not deny assaulting his wife, but the fact of the matter was that she had got him worked up to such a fever that he did not know what he was doing. The magistrate said we had got past the days when a man could beat his wife with a stick. That sort of thing had been abolished. Mr. Hart said it was obvious that the couple should not be living together. They should be separated. “Well, they are certainly going to be separated for 21 days, anyway!’’ rapped out Mr. Hunt, S.M. “He has already had a week in gaol,’’ said Mr. Hart. “Yes, and that’s why I’m making it 21 days, because he’s going to have a month there!’’