CUSTODY OF CHILD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 August 1926, Page 5

CUSTODY OF CHILD.

FATHER OR AUNT? DECISION OF THE COURT. A'very clear indication that he preferred his aunt to his father was given by a. small boy at the Supreme Court at Auckland on Wednesday, but despite the child’s tears and resistance Mr. Justice Stringer was unmoved, and the aunt had to leave the court without her fair-haired nephew, whose' custody was in dispute. The mother had been divorced, a decree absolute. It was alleged by the youthful father, who had been the petitioner in the divorce action, that the respondent was living in adultery with the co-respond-ent, and for that reason lie sought the custody of the boy' in his own interests. However, if the respondent and co-res-pondent married and their home surroundings were suitable he would have no objection to the mother again having the boy. In the meantime the child was living with respondent’s people, an aunt, who brought the hoy- to the court and pleaded to be allowed to keep him. Mr. Justice Stringer said that although convinced the child was being well cared for he must give the child into the custody of its father, whom he directed to take the boy away.

The aunt thereupon asked the child whether he wished to go with his father, and the boy indicated in a most emphatic way that he did not. This led the father to say the child’s mind was being set against him, a statement that was indignantly denied by the' aunt.

When the father endeavoured to lead the boy away by the hand the child resisted and began to cry. The aunt, however, took charge' of the situation for the moment and quickly walked out of the court room with the l hoy, to be preemptorily ordered by the Judge to return. After a sharp reprimand to the woman His Honour ordered the father to pick up the boy and take him away, which lie' did despite tears and resistance.

“He will soon get over that,” the Judge remarked, as the parties dispersed.