HUSBAND WHO FORGOT DUTY TO HIS WIFE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6900, 4 May 1929, Page 8

HUSBAND WHO FORGOT DUTY TO HIS WIFE

Left Fortune to Charities JUDGE INCREASES WIDOW’S ALLOWANCE Per Perss Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. Considered by Mr. Justice Blair to have been allowed an insufficient sum under the will of .her husband, Mrs. Annie Skene had her annuity undor the will raised from £IS2 to £3OO in the Supremo Court to-day. The judge further ordered that Mrs. Skene should be paid a lump sum of £250 for her present requirements. The allowance for Mrs. Skene was describee by Mr. Richmond, who conductor the claim against the Public Trustee as “unjust and showing a want of recognition of moral duty.’’ The assets of the estate at tho death of Allan Skene on January 28 were £9385 19s 8d and the liabilities £540 10s. “Tho manner in which tho testator has dealt with his wife is highly unjust. One can only call it that. Mrs. Skeno has been left practicaly penniless,’’ said Mr. Richmond in asking that the annuity should be increased to £3OO. “A large amount is not being asked for. A lump sum of £250 is also claimed for Mrs. Scene’s immediate needs.”

“lam bound to say there is a good deal of justice in my friend’s contentions,” said Mr. Johnstone, representing the Public Trustee and other beneficiaries under the will. “It is conceded that deceased had a moral duty to perform and we do not think it unreasonable that a sufficient sum should bo allowed to Mrs. Skone. The charities represented in tho United Kingdom—some of them are as far away as Adrtdeen—to which money has been left would probably not put forward any strenuous opposition to some amount being paid to the widow.” The judge agreed. It appeared that deceased had not fulfilled his moral duty to the person most entitled to consideration. In making the new annuity payable from the. date of his death, ho said the will would stand in all othor respects.