NATTRASS CASE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11437, 6 February 1923, Page 5

NATTRASS CASE

WIFE’S MAINTENANCE HUSBAND ORDERED TO .PAY £4 A WEEK. OFFER TO PAY £2 10s. Howard Nattrass, a motor dealer, was the defendant in an action heard by Air F. K.. Hunt, S.M., at- the Magistrate’s Court yesterday'. His wife, Vera Louise Nattrass, applied for orders of separation and maintenance, and guardianship of one child of tho marriage. Mr G. G. Watson appeared for the petitioner, and Mr D. Jackson for the respondent. (SEPARATED FOUR YEARS. Air Watson told the magistrate that the parties had been living apart for four years, the first reason being that Nattrass had found himself the defendant in an action for seduction. A deed of separation made then provided that Nattrass should pay his wife £2O a month. Payments were kept up from Maroh 15th, 1919, until February, 1921, when Nattrass and his employers, the Nattrass and Harris Motor Company, parted. Under the terms of the deed, the company paid up for several months, hut towards the end of 1921 got into difficulties. A TRIP TO AMERICA. Further negotiations took place when it waa learned that Nattrass was about to leave for America in connection with a patent of his. On April 24tli, 1922, a new deed was drawn up betwee n the plaintiff and the defendant,. and the Howard Nattrass Tank Carburetter Syndicate. Defendant was to reoeive £2OO from the syndicate, and pay £2 10s per week in maintenance. The svndicat© was called upon to guarantee the payments and the defendant’s return to New Zealand. It paid £2 10s a week to Mrs Nqttrass until November, 1922, when it advised the defendant that he was not abroad on the 6vndieate’s business. He returned lo New Zealand at the beginning of this year nncl on Friday morning maintenance was paid up by the syndicate, under tb© deed, but only after it had been threatened with legal proceedings. Mr Watson stressed the points that for four years Nattrass had maintained the voung woman who was the cause of the trouble; that he was now asked to pay only £lO a month; and that he owned a large number of shares, valued at £SO each. Howard Edward Wills, manager anu trustee of the Howard-Nattrass Tank Carburettor Syndicate, gave evidence regarding the allocation of shares. During his cross-examination, Mr Jackson said Nattrass was willing to pay £2 10s a week. WILLING TO PAY. The petitioner gave evidence, and Mr Jackson called Nattrass, who said he had always been, willing to maintain his wife, and had opposed the case being brought to court. He made a detailed statement of his financial position. The magistrate decided that Nattrass was quite capable of earning his own living, and said it was his duty to look after his wife and child before anyone else. He ordered him to pay £3 a week for the wife and £1 for the child. The furnishing of security for payment was left over for one month. Respondent is to make an advance payment of £l6 in the meantime.