LAW NOT FAIR TO WOMEN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 296, 30 November 1928, Page 3

LAW NOT FAIR TO WOMEN

JUDGE’S COMAIENTS. "The law is not quite fair to women in New Zealand,” remarked His Honour Air Justice Reed when hearing a case in the Supreme Court tt Wellington, in which husband and wife appeared as parties to an action involving a claim for a share in a property, or for judgment for moneys lent. “In Canada, I think it is,” added His Honour, “everything owned by the husband or wife is equally owned by both. In this case it is quite clear that the woman helped her bus band to build up the man’s property, but as far as the law is concerned J don't think she is entitled to any share of that.” The incomes of both husband and wife had been paid into one account and a property was purchased in the name of the husband who was defendant in the case. Plaintiff claimed a declaration that she was entitled to a half share in the property or judgment for £l7O for moneys lent by plaintiff to defendant. The defence disputed the claim for the half interest in the land, and maintained there was no justification for it. It was submitted that the utmost the wife was entitled to receive was £l5O.

“I sympathise with plaintiff, in fact with every woman in a case of this kind, because the law bears harshly upon them,” said His Honour, who went on to say that the defendant had married on nothing, but as a result of his wife’s hard work had come out after eight or ten years in a fair financial position. He did not think the money was ever intended us a gift, and plaintiff was entitled to recovery. His Honour said l--> felt disposed to treat plaintiff liberally. Judgment would be for plaintiff for £2OO, with costs according to scale.