UNDEFENDED DIVORCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22901, 2 December 1937, Page 19

UNDEFENDED DIVORCES

A NURSE'S PETITION ONE CASE ADJOURNED [FROM OCR OWN' correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday A nurse, Margaret Whittaker, was granted a divorce from James Whittaker by Mr. Justice Callan in the Hamilton Supreme Court to-day on the grounds of separation. Petitioner said the parties were married in 1925. There wore no children. In 1933, her husband's business -failed, and he. said he wanted to go away. They agreed to separate, and she had earned her own living as a nurse since. Witness produced testimonials in support of her statement.

His Honor said "he regarded the testimonials as better corroboration than much of the evidence he received in divorce cases. The petition was granted. • His Honor declined to accept a respondent's assurance that his wife had lived apart from him for six years in the case in which Irene Myrtle Morshead sought a dissolution of her marriage with Ralph Morshead. Petitioner said soon after her marriage in 1930 she took exception to her husband frequently visiting and taking out a widow. Six months after the marriage a separation was agreed to and she and her husband parted. There were no children. His Honor said it would be a bad precedent to accept responds ent's statement. x He would adjourn the case pending the receipt of direct corroboration.