DOMESTIC DIFFERENCES.

NZ Truth, Issue 105, 22 June 1907, Page 4

DOMESTIC DIFFERENCES.

THE ROWS OF THE RICK- ' MANN'S.

He Laid Down to his Work.

Order For Separation Graoted.

Marital misery is fairly prevalent m New Zealand, but a good deal of it isn't made public, as people don't wan* to brag aitoout it. Now, Catherine Rickmaain is a little lady who hasn't any scruples about publicity. At anyrate she mentioned her troubles very forcibly to Magistrate Riddell at Wellington oh Tuesday. She was married to John William Rickmann m 1889, when* the pair had a bakery business, and' presumably John used to work. Four children blessed the union, but John William seemed to have a hopeless disinclination for toil. During the present year the missus received the magnificent sum of 10/ from hubby, and she is getting tired of that' sort of thing. John William, who wears a perpetual comfortable smile, appeared to be greatly amused at the proceedings. He and his wife, he. explained, were part proprietors of th jir home, andjs.he put his spare time into improving the property. It was represented that the family might starve while these improvements were beting effected. • His Worship : Does he. drink ?—Everv time he gets a iow shillings. .Is he m @oo>d foea-lfrh ?•— Yes, be. says he's got pains m the legs. Are any of the children m work ?— One girl earns 8/ .a "week,- a boy earns 7/s or 8/, and another little girl earns 3/ a week. The ages of these four children range from six to fifteen years, and the establishment is kept up mostly, on their earnings. The wife has got a scho^l-cleaniing ,ioh with her husband, "out John William failed to do his part of the contract. "He lives at home. Your Worship," remarked this ill-used wife, "arid EXPECTS THE BEST OF EVERYTHING-.'" The wife ■ had done a little canvassing) to make ends meet. John William : From January 22md to 24th March what did I do ?— You painted the house, but were lying, j down half the time. He dioesn't think to work. Didn't I work on Sunday ■?— Yes, but you made my >boy do most pf it.- ...-..-• The parties here engaged m heated argument. • ' His Worship : I'll have no rowing here. • John William : Wihat do I do at the school? ■•'■•■■ . Catherine here produced a letter from the ; secretary of the School Committee, m -which' it was stated that owing to John. William's negligence to do his work, his services would have to he,; dispensed with. John William's capacity for doin-g nothing 'ssams to have -been phenomenal. .'•■'•.. John William : ■•Explain to his Worship how the work is done; ' His Worship : I don't want to hear it. , ....... Catherine * I would like you to hear the sort of language my husband uses 'm front of the children, when he's drunk. The husband here reproached the wife, and a headed discussion occurred. The wife outlasted the husband. His Worship,: I ask ycAi to stop speaking! . ... •■, .. John William got into the box and stated m connection w'th the school business that: his wife had said she would do the work herself . He claimed that he worked at home, improving their common property. An altercation here accurred between husband and wife. His Worship : Stop that noise. His Worship ; Do you give your wife any assistance beyond painting about. the house ? — Yes ; I've had two jobs. I got a pound for a spring trap a mont,h or' six weeks back. Catherine here interposed, with indignation, and was called to order. Are you m good health ?— I suffer at the knees from rheumatism. Sometimes I'M QUITE HELPLESS. Do you ever get drunk ?— I do occasionally. Do you pay for your own liquor ? —I do— or somebody else ,does. The orderly : Silenoa ! How often d - you get drunk ?— Well, not more than half a dozen times m six months. That is once a month. - >You say you don't contribute any actual cash beyond your work at home ?— l'm improving the section. ' , What work could you do ?— l'm a good all-round man. The wife again interfered, with indignation, and was suppressed. How. much do you think you could earn per week ?*-If all depends on the class of work. His Worship mentioned that the defendant had lost his school-cleaning job on the ground of neglect. The defendant practically did nothing. He alleged that he suffered from rheumatism m certain months of the year : but he appeared to be trading on his half-interest W the sec--fcioxtr -He isetrri~s~^tcr~ljer Tsp^dmtrmos-tr; of his time improving the section, but that did not bring m anything for the maintenance of the house. Iti was a pity that parties who had been married so long should have to come to the court and seek separation, but HE WOULD GRANT THE ORDER, the wife to have custody of the children! The husband would have to pay the wife's costs ; but as the wife had half interest m the property no order would jbe made to maintain her. The husband, who must not live on the premises, had to pay 9s court fees. Apparently he will have to go out into the • cold world and work. '