Startling News For Divorced Wives

Northern Advocate, 23 May 1941, Page 2

Startling News For Divorced Wives

fSpecial to “Northern Advocate”! AUCKLAND, This Day. A statement that a wife who did not defend a petition for restitution of conjugal rights thereby admitted desertion, and was not entitled to claim maintenance, was made by Mr. Justice Callan in the Supreme Court today. His Honor said he had applications for maintenance from divorced wives, and they and their counsel were startled on being informqd that they had no claim where the divorce had been obtained for failure to make restitution of conjugal rights. Albert Henry James sought a decree ordering;, his wife to return to him. Petitioner said that when he shifted to the country his wife agreed to follow after a home had been procured, but she had not done so. The Judge ordered the wife to return within 28 days, adding: “It should be made abundantly clear to this very young woman that if she does not obey the order it will be useless for her to go to court to get maintenance from him. She will get a short answer. She was told to go home, and she did not go'.”