BROWN v. BROWN.

NZ Truth, Issue 641, 29 September 1917, Page 2

BROWN v. BROWN.

' All Fixed for "Wife No. 2." ■ ; Some time ago Florence Maud Flowerdew -Brown was presented with a decree nisi against her husband, Herbert Patrick Flowerdew-Brown, on th'e ; grounds of his misconduct. On Wednesday morning '■ Florence Maud, assisted by Lawyer Luckie, asked the Chief Justice to order Herbert Patrick to ; DUB UP A BIT OF ALIMONY. Respondent, however, represented by Mr. C. W. Neilson, jibbed at this, and also asked that the decree nisi which his wife had obtained should be made absolute. Mr. Luckie, for the lady, argued that the application had been made top soon, and even if this was not so-; counsel contended that Herbert Patrick was not entitled to a decree absolute, as he had not complied with the order made against him to find security for costs. Counsel stated that the wife was at present earning 30s a week in Government employ, and that respondent was now living in the same house as another lady, whom he proposed to marry as soon as he was properly divorced.- •■. \ . ' ■„--.■ Herbert Patrick Flowerdew-Brdwri, said he was employed as accpuhtajit, secretary and treasurer by the New Zealand Automatic . Bakeries, Ltd., and was getting £4 15s a week. Mr. Luckie: You object to paying ybiy wife alimony?— l do.'-, •■ ;'You' think' that because' your wife is working for her living and earning a salary you are not under any obligation to maintain her?— She was riot fit to be my wife, and she is now divorced. Don't you know that you are bound to provide her with permanent alimony?—She came to me with nothing. His Honor: What has that got to do with' it? Mr. Luckie: He looks on marriage as an ordinary civil contract, to be broken at will. . ■'•■;. His Honor: Where were you born? Respondent: I am . AN ANGLO-INDIAN and have been in New Zealand four years. . His Honor: You evidently do not know our law. If you choose to violate your marriage vows, you must pay the consequences, you know. Respondent, giving evidence as to his means, said he was at present renting a fully furnished ( house in Clarence-street, Brooklyn. He owed about £200 for furniture! Mr. Luckie: Why did you buy all these goods? — If a person gets married he wants furniture. The position, your Honor, is that he has started to buy furniture,, for his new wife to be before his old wife is properly divorced: (To respondent) : You want to get rid of your wife? — Oh yes. She is no good to me. And, therefore, you committed a matrimonial offence in order to get rid of her? — Yes. It was for her good. I forced her into it. . Have you ever read the marriage 'service? — I was married in the Registry Office. I married the girl two weeks after I had met her. She said she could make me happy, but she did not do so. The girl you are going to marry is in the same house as you? — Yes. She is my housekeeper. How long has. she been your housekeeper? — For the last three months. Immediately the decree nisi was made? — About that time. You bought this lady an engagement ring?— l did. Mr. Neilson: How old were you when you were married? — Twenty- five. My wife was six years older. ! When you were married how much were your earnings ?— Two pounds a week. She said she would go to work to help me, but she did not. Did you attempt to make provision for youV wife's maintenance? — I undertook to send her £1 a week. I did this for three weeks, and then she sent the pound back with the message, "I DON'T WANT YOUR DIRTY MONEY." Petitioner went on to state that his wife was now earning 30s a week in a Government Deportment. Mr. Neilson: Have you, yourself, a permanent position? — My position is insecure through these divorce proceedings. His Honor: The difficulty is that the work of this lady is only temporary, and may end after the war. I think provision should be made for this. 1 will make an order as follows: (1) That the costs of the decree nisi must be paid by ; respondent, as ordered. (2) That the costs of the petition must be paid. (3) That the costs of both petitions for alimony, seven guineas in each case with' disbursements, be paid by respondent. (4) I will allow the woman 15s a week during the war and for six months after. At the end of this period the matter will be further adjudicated on by the court. If all the orders are complied with a decree absolute will be issued, i