SIX STEP-CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19086, 3 August 1925, Page 9

SIX STEP-CHILDREN.

A MAINTENANCE CLAIM. STEP-FATHER'S LIABILITY. The unusual feature of a mail being proceeded against for the support of his six step-children during the life of their true father marked a case heard before Mr. H. "VV. Bundle, S.M., in the Dunedin Police Court last week, when tho police applied for an order compelling a young man to pay maintenance toward the support of his wife's six children, who are at present inmates of tho Caversham Industrial school. Counsel submitted that though defendant was the husband of the mother of tho childron, he had no moral duty toward those children. Tho woman had been forced to divorce her first husband, who was in gaol, but, who would soon be liberated. Defendant said that when he married he did not realise that, he would bo responsible for the maintenance of his stepchildren, who were then boarded out. Mr. Bundle said that the case was rather difficult to decide. Apparently defendant did not know of his liability. It was ridiculous that hu should be placed in the same position as the truo father. But the mother was legally responsible. Ho would make an order for 5s a week, to cover all the children. If a further order were mado against the natural father, an application could bo mado to the Court for cancellation of the order.