MAINTENANCE ORDER CANCELLED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 13 June 1939, Page 6

MAINTENANCE ORDER CANCELLED

| BENEFITS UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY ACT DEFENDANT NO LONGER A DESTITUTE PERSON (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. Holding that under the Social Security Act provision was made for defendant, and that he was no longer a destitute person within the definition of the Destitute Persons’ Act, Mr Goulding, S.M., in a reserved judgment to-day, cancelled a maintenance order and all arrears owing on the ground that defendant was drawing age benefits provided by the Social Security Act, he being aged 68. The Magistrate said he did not think that defendant was in a different position from one who received superannuation or a pension except perhaps as to the amount received. In addition to the receipt of 30s a week, the Magistrate said he must take into consideration that defendant was entitled to medical and pharmaceutical benefits under the Act. The complaint was for the cancellation of a maintenance order in favour of defendant against his son. His son complained that circumstances had changed since the order was made, in that the father was drawing age benefits under the Social Security Act, and that his own circumstances were such that he was not able to keep up the order.