MAINTENANCE UNPAID

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 14

MAINTENANCE UNPAID

DEFAULTER SENT TO PRISON REFUSAL TO GO INTO CAMP [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Friday The refusal of a maintenance defaulter to seek employment in a married men's camp resulted in his being sentenced to six months' imprisonment by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court to-day. The defendant was John Wilson, who was charged with being in arrears to the extent of £l4 with respect to the maintenance of his wife, and £4 10s with respect to tlio maintenance of his child. Defendant said he had made every endeavour to obtain work, and had been living in a bach and receiving meals from his friends. He said he had a bad back and was unfit to, work. The magistrate remarked that if defendant had been weilding a slasher for five months there could not be much wrong with his back. Defendant said he would try to find work under the No. 5 scheme, and would work according to how ho felt. Asked if he had refused an offer of work in a married men's camp, defendant said ho had. The magistrate concluded the case by saying it was ridiculous for defendant to talk as he had done. Ho did not know what kind of work he would have to do in camp, and yet he had contended that he could not do it. Defendant was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on each of the two charges, the sentences to be concurrent.