MR. KETTLE GRIEVED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14853, 2 December 1911, Page 8

MR. KETTLE GRIEVED.

UNHAPPY HOMES.

A DANGER TO THE COUNTRY.

Stories of shattered homes and the temptations that go to break up happy matrimonial relations were again unfolded before Mr. 1 .C/C1 Kettle, S.M., in the * Magistrate's Court yesterday. . ' A well-dressed young married woman, who had sharp, direct answers for the numerous questions put to her, applied for a separation order from her husband, William Trewalla, who," she ; said, was mean, ill-tempered, and jealous. She also asked for the custody of the child. Since the case was last before the Court there has been an unexpected development in the disappearance of the child from near the gate of the house where Its mother wag living. When the child was taken away, Mrs Trewalla then went to . the police station at Newton, and while there defendant rang up and said Mr. Kettle had given him permission- to take the child. The defendant, on being questioned, repeated the statement that Mr. Kettle had fold him to take the child. "Do you swear that?" asked Mr. Kettle, sternly, "Did I not tell you to leave my office, and consult a solicitor? You know perfectly well you were never told by mo to take the child." The woman emphatically denied any suggestion that she had posed at dances as a sniglo girl, representing that her sister was .Mrs. Trewalla. . ' Grave perjury is being committed by one side or the other, and I may have to refer this matter to the police for investigation," remarked Mr. Kettle. The husband, when he was asked tor the cause of the trouble, said that the break-up in his home was due to his wife going to dances. "Dances," he said, "are the curse and ruination of many homes in Auckland.' "The features of this case are distressing and exceptional," said Mr Kettle, finally. "Two children got married with every prospect of living nappily. but trouble arose, and there were nafd words. The husband does not go to the publichouse and drink; his whole . mind seems to be set upon establishing his i home. He says he wants his wife, and child to be with him, and I believe that he .is speaking-, the. truth. Why is his wife not at home, trying to forget all those wretched troubles that have arisen between herself and her husband?"

"My experience tells me," added the Magistrate, "that a large number of young women who get married , find the marriage ties irksome to them; they prefer the easy life, a life of gaiety and enjoyment. That is true and, as an old Magistrate, and knowing , what I do, I see a great change that has com© over a great number of young men and women. I see this constantly, and it weighs heavily upon me. If the homes are to be unhappy and broken-up then the country must go down with them." . His Worship said he would not make an order, but would adjourn the case for one month, the husband promising to support his wife while sho is in the hospital, which" she will enter for treatment on Monday. • To the wife Mr. Kettle said : " Will you come and see me when you come out?""I will never go back to him." " I never asked you that; will you come and see me?"I will, by myself." When the parties left the Court, the promise of any reconciliation seemed a long way off. • .'