DIVORCE GRANTED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 May 1939, Page 5

DIVORCE GRANTED

PROBABLY NO GOOD OUTSIDE DOMINION COMMENT BY HIS HONOUR I United Press Association] AUCKLAND, This Day. In granting a decree nisi in an undefended petition brought by his wife for a divorce in the Supreme Court to-day. Mr Justice Callan requested that publicity be given to the fact that the divorce which petitioner was in process of obtaining would probabjy te no good outside New Zealand and any assumption by the husband, who was believed to be living outside New Zealand, that he was divorced would be wrong. The petitioner, Edith Ida Haw, applied for a divorce from John Thomas Haw on the ground of desertion. They were reconsiled. Later her husband in--1918 while her husband was training for a commission in the army and had known each other since childhood. After his discharge from the Army they had lived with her mother at York and had had disputes and had separated but vver reconciled. Later her husband insisted on going alone for a holiday to Scarborough an on his return he made admissions about a woman which she condoned. They agreed to go to New Zealand on an invitation from her brother. She went first and he was to follow, but on arrival at her distination she received a letter stating that he was not coming. She had not since seen him or been able to communicate with him.

In granting the decree, to be made absolute in three months. His Honour made the remarks already quoted and said that should the husband h*ar of these proceedings and asume he was divorced he would probably be wrong and consequently be committing bigamy if he married again. A husband who deserted his wife did not deserve much consideration from the Court, but His Honour felt that publicity should be given to this aspect.