COST OF MARRYING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21554, 27 July 1933, Page 10

COST OF MARRYING

INTERLUDE IN COURT DEBTS AND HONEYMOON LITTLE INFORMATION GIVEN [iJY TELEGRAPH' PRESS ASSOCIATION*] BLENHEIM. Wednesday Ignorance regarding the cost of marrying was confessed by both Bench and Bar in the Magistrate's Court this morning in the course of a humorous interlude arising out of a judgment summons in which the debtor admitted having married while an undischarged judgment was hanging over liib head. "When Mr. A. A. MaeNab, who represented the judgment creditor, elicited this information ho asked, "How much money did you spend on the wedding?" "Just the usual amount to get married," replied the debtor. "How much is that?" pursued counsel. "It is a long time since I in- | curred that expense." I The debtor confessed that there was j a honeymoon in Wellington in addition | to other expenses. "If you are able to get married you will have to pay this debt," - declared the magistrate, Mr. T. E. Maunsell, bluntly. Debtor: The sum of £4 2s should riot stop a man getting married. The Magistrate: But how about paying your debts before you got married ? Debtor: It's too late now, sir. The Magistrate (laughing): Oh, 1 know you can't nndo it now. When Mr. MaeNab resumed his examination of debtor and proceeded to inquire further into the cost of the nuptial celebrations.the magistrate also confessed to ignorance of the expenses in such matters to-day. "I have forgotten what it costs to got married," lie said, "but I should say it costs more than £4. It is not a recurring event, of course. One cannot remember these things after so long." Ihe debtor refused to be drawn into supplying any statistics respecting the cost of getting married and persisted in remaining rather vague on the subject. Finally the magistrate's question took a fresh turn. "Did you marry a wife of substantial means?" he asked. "No, sir," replied the debtor. The Magistrate: Well, when you married her you undertook to endow her with all your worldly goods. Surely you were able to endow her with more than £4 2s, weren't you ? Mr. Maunsell decided that the debt must be satisfied and proceeded to enter judgment to the effect of payment forthwith, in default five days' imprisonment. The Debtor (anxiously): When is forthwith, Your Worship? The Magistrate: Une moment. I have not finished yet—you have only hoard the worst of it yet. He added to his verdict that the warrant was to bo suspended as long as the judgment was liquidated in weekly •instalments. The debtor breathed again.