PATERNITY DISPROVED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23129, 30 August 1938, Page 15

PATERNITY DISPROVED

BLOOD TEST EVIDENCE CASE AT NEW PLYMOUTH [bt TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday Although there have been previous cases in the New Plymouth and other Taranaki Courts in which blood test evidence has been a factor in cases in which proof of paternity has been in issue, a stronger case of the kind came before Mr. AY. H. 'Woodward, S.M., in which two independent blood tests were accepted as conclusive proof that the defendant in affiliation proceedings could not be the father of an illegitimate child in respect of which proceedings "had been commenced for an order adjudging him the father ot a child born on June 25, 19:38. One test was made for the defendant on his own behalf and this was so conclusively negative that he was content to relv solely upon it as his defence to the application. Another test was made, however, at the request of the Education Department, for whom the police were acting, _ and as this was equally ' conclusive in the defendant s favour was given to withdraw the proceedings. Blood tests may prove that a man cannot be the father of a child. I bey may also prove that he comes within the same group in blood testing as that of the child, or its mother, but thev cannot prove even then that he is the father —only that it is possible for him to be.