DEFAULTING HUSBAND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 September 1927, Page 9

DEFAULTING HUSBAND.

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN. ABEESTED TO FACE CHARGE. Arrested at Rahotu on Slonday, John Comber appeared before Mr R. W. Tate, S.M., in the Flaw era Court this morning to answer a charge of being in arrears in payments on a maintenance order made for £5 monthly in respect of his wife during November, 1926. On the information laid- in February, 1927, the arrears, up to January 24, amounted to £8 2s, but, as explained by complainant’s counsel (Sir P. O’Dea), accumulations since that date 'brought the total arrears to £45. Defendant informed the court that he was employed bv the Public Works Department and was willing to give complainant an order for half of his wages. “I ican’t always work though,” he continued, “I have a very bad strain and it lays me up when I do heavy lifting. I’ve got £5 with me now and will pay £4 out of that.” Replying to the magistrate, defendant said his average wage was about £3 10s but last month he received only £9. After further inquiry he was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended so long as the monthly payment of £5 was maintained, together with 10s weekly off the an ears. !

Defendant: “What if I’m ill and can’t keep up the payments. 'Have I got to go to jail?” The magistrate: “If you get into difficulties and honestly cannot meet your obligations write to the court or to your wife’s solicitor, but don’t put the court to the necessity of hairing you arrested again.”