DIVORCE PETITIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21518, 15 June 1933, Page 14

DIVORCE PETITIONS

UNUSUAL LEGAL POINT DOCUMENTS FOR MAORIS Two divorce petitions were granted by Mr. Justice Reed in the Supreme Court yesterday. In the case of the petition of Myrtle Ruby Paki (Mr. Schramm) for dissolution of her marriage with George Paki on the ground of separation by agreement, an unusual legal point was raised by His Honor. The law requires all legal documents served on Maoris to be accompanied by a translation in their own language. Evidence was given that the respondent Paki, although he was a Maori, could neither read nor speak Maori, and Mr. Schramm produced a waiver from him dispensing with the necessity for translation. His Honor questioned whether this was a sufficient waiver, but after Mr. Schramm had had opportunity to produce the authorities on the point, His Honor accepted the document. The petitioner said they were married in February, 1918. On account of unhappy differences, they had been living apart for the past five years, and in November, 1929, they entered into a separation agreement. A decree nisi was granted. Divorce was sought by Nicholas Peters (Mr. Schramm) from Olive Mavis Peters on the ground of misconduct. R. Mercer was named as the co-respon-dent. Peters said that after their marriage in June, 1919, they lived together iu Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, Sydney and Melbourne, returning to New Zealand in 1923. He left his wife about six years ago on account of her drinking habits and her conduct with other men. For the last three years she had been keeping company with the co-respondent, part of the time assisting him in his picture show business at Ruawai.

Evidence was given that respondent and co-respondent had signed an admission of misconduct, and His Honor granted a decree nisi.