Not So Very Easy

NZ Truth, Issue 978, 23 August 1924, Page 12

Not So Very Easy

CONJUGAL RIGHTS— JUDGE ALERT.

/The cry of a certain class is that m the present day divorce is made too easy. But divorce is not always as easy as it looks, and the Judges of the Supreme Court are very particular to be absolutely satisfied before they make'the entry which will cast asunder the holy bonds. At the Auckland Supreme Cburt the other day a petition was heard for the restitution of conjugal rights, but his Honor Mr. Justice Herdman was not altogether, satisfied with the evidence which was placed before him, and he adjourned, the matter till such time as absolute >proof wda produced. The petitioner was Stanley Alvin Poster (represented by Lawyer ■JV". T. Hampton, of Hamilton), and he asked for the restitution of conjugal rights with his wife, Marjorie Ethel. The petitioner, m the box, stated that he was married on January 19, four yeans ago, and about November 2f last his wife left him and had not returned, since. Ho had asked her to return to him on many occasions, but she would not hearken to his requests. The Judffc: Do you sincerely wish your wife to return to. you? Petitioner: I do your Honor. The Judge: Why did she leave you? — I do not know, sir.' His Honor: Have you a home ready for her? — I have, sir. The Judge: How did she come to leave? — She came to Auckland when her father was m hospital here, and she has not returned. The Judge: And can you assure me that your application to get your wife hack is a genuine one?— l can, your Honor. Counsel produced a letter which the petitioner had written to the respondent asking her back. The Judge: But I shall require more proof than this. I have no proof that tho woman ever received this letter. Counsel: The letter, sir, was sent by roistered post and was not returned to the petitioner. The petitioner posted the letter himself. The Judge: Has he not the docket? — Petitioner said that he had not. The petition was adjourned for proof that the woman received the letter or that she had absented herself from him for the period specified.