WIFE DESERTION.

NZ Truth, Issue 274, 1 October 1910, Page 4

WIFE DESERTION.

A JOLT FROM .••JUSTICE*" What has Findlay Accomplished? The Vaporings of the Attorney-Gen-eral — A Politician and his Paper— — Is he After the Premiership? Freak Humanitarian Legislation—The Case of Williams —Will he be Brought Back ?— The Law Good as it Stands— An Ex- " J ample Necessary.

Though John George Findlay has been AttorneyK3encral for over three years and Minister of Justice for less than that period, people are now asking : What has that platiWdiaiising politician accomplished ? The public Jias became full-up of his platform vaporijngs. He is eternally airing, his oratorical powers, and were it hot for the prominence given him m, the columns of the "New Zealand Times," it is "doubtful whether Mie oammuaity would be aware of, Find ; ldy's political existence: It has • been said that Dr. Findlay has HIS BYE ON THE PREMIERSHIP. That, of course, is preposterous. A 'man wfio can reach no higher than the Legislative Council, and has-: had the experience of defeats at. elections, has his own and Buckley's chances of ever becoming head of tihev Government. Judged by his political performances, Dr. Fkitdl'ay, as a "'humanitarian" politician, has proved a frost. The Statute Book has ; not been enriched by any of his freakisii "humanitarian" laws. He remains today what he ever lias been, a political bainboozler who has attained a certain pre-eminence as AttorneyGeneral, after others had. refused the portfolios he now holds— a sort of second-hand politician. He has'"iluted" a lot about his "humanitarian" proposals. Those that have faean placed on the Statute Book have resulted m ignominious failure. Incidentally, the politician who has to rely on the "N.Z. Times" to bolster him. up and to boom him can hardly be counted "a saviour of liis country." It is reajlly up to Findlay to &bow something for the confidence reposed m 'him by Sir Joseph Ward. "Truth" takes, pleasure iti- drawing the Attor-ney-General's attention to the few remarks of "Justice," who writes On "Uesertiotn and Divorce," and asks for cheap justice. The writer says :— Ofiour paper would render a greaS service to the camfmunity if it Would advocate what is evidently, m tine light of recent divorce cases, badly required m "God's Own Country," viz., obeap justice. To fight a defemded divorce suit the petitioner must be a man of means, otherwise only one course Is open to him— desertion. And yet \s«e liave the amazing- spectacle of Dr. Fimdlay, THE REJECTED OP THE PEOPLE, introducing legislation providing lor the deserter to be promptly hunted to earth m another land and. made to. pay maintenance . to : his wife. This is Dr. Findlay's brainy remedy to stop wife desertion. Isn't it beautiful ? Of course .he doesn't want fche women's votes— oh, no,! of course not. He is such a humane and disinterested politician. Now the remedy for wife desertion is to make divoroe cheap, and if the petitioner is J'stomey" he should be represented by a lawyer from the Crown Law. Department,. It simply means extending the functions of .that Department:, bn+., being ft lawyer, Dr. Findlay Would not see eye to eye with this proposal, because it would touch the pockets of legal practitioners. It would never do, to interfere with costs, whatever else is done. No, legal harpies must live, and God knows they 'have, not lived m vuiin.

These remarks call for no comment from ' "Truth, " still the suggestions are put before Dr. Findlay for Vnat they are worth. The question of dealing with Wife deserters is one fraught with difficulty. The tew- is too often made tbe play-thing of i»nscrupuktas and unfaithful wives. Husbands are gaoled and incapacitated generally while wanton wives flaunt their wickedness before the world. The legislation which Dr. Findlay has proposed, has^ not yet become law. It stands a good chance of becoming one ctf the slaughtered innocents just as other' of Dr. Find-lay's fads Will become. Ttie law conetrniiffg deserting husbands, as it stands at present, is quite effectual enough for the police to put into operation, and Why there should be any alteration is hard to say. W* do not -Know whether Dr. Findlay is serious with his alleged humanitarian legislate oh, but ii he is desirous of showing earnestness to right the wrongs of injjurp.d wives, why does he not set the law, as it stands, into operation, and bring back George Williams, THE WELLINGTON EXDETBCTIVE, who has, it is alleged, deserted his wife and child- m tftis city. Williams was arrested m Melbourne, and we learn, that he entered into a personal bond of £50 to return to Wellington.. Further, George Goodall, lately a cestaurafft-keeper of Willis-street, now a pony sport, battling- with the "books" across the Tafeman, entered into a bond for Williams' release. Goodall, we learn, now unfortunately finds himself up against the law that requires £50 from him, because Williams failed to keep his word. If ever an example was necessary it is m the case of George Williams. If Dr. Findlay is anxious to show his earnestness m bringing m a law to cope with wife deserters, &£ him take advantage of the present law and, at the country's expense, find Williams and bring him back to Wellington to answer the charge brought against him by his wife.