A ROUGH TRIP

NZ Truth, Issue 1198, 15 November 1928, Page 8

A ROUGH TRIP

Marital Tour Upset By Breakers

(From "N.Z, Truth's" Wellington Rep*)

Three swallows do not make a

summer, nor does a wedding*- ring make for matrimonial happiness.

This, apparently, will no doubt be

the conclusion arrived at by Joseph

William Calnan and his wife. QNE cannot place old heads on. young shoulders, m spite of what may be done for the best, nor can youngsters barely out of their 'teens be adepts ih the art' of forbearance.

When Joseph married his Elsie Rosa m May of 19?6, she was barely nine-, teen, while he was little older.; The marriage was a, forced one, a child appearing on the scene m October of the same year. .

According to the bitterness ot spirit }n which both the husband and wife gave their evidence m the Magistrate's Court last week, when the wife applied to S.M. Salmon for maintenance., for herself and child, things matrimonial have not been too pleasing with theni,

Some time ago, Elsie Jinet with a motor accident m the city and this had affected her head. It had. been arranged that she return to her mother's place "while her husband and the baby went to live with his parents at Te Aro baths, Calnan pere being custodian there. .

Calnan junior paid- maintenance for the child, but not for his wife, the arrangement being that the respective parents should keep the two, thus siv* ing the young husband a chance to re* coup financially, In placing her application for maintenance and guardianship before the court, Elsie denied this. She was ill and needed quiet and attention, ftnd for, that reason had gone to ftex mother's as she wasn't capable of keeping house. Joseph had sent along 15/- a veeK for the support of his child, but nothing for, heraelf. Elsie said, she was prepared to return to live -with her husband provided he. secured a good home for v her. The place at Haughton Bay to. which he wanted to take her belonged to Ma parents, and there would always be interference, she said.

Cross* examined by Lawyer J. J, McOath, who \ appeared for the young husband,' Elsie denied that the place was too far away from the gay lights of the city. She had hardly been out since her marriageu

Mutual recriminations seemed to be the order of the day, for when Elsie's mother stepped into the hox she said, m answer to Lawyer Percy Jackson's questioning, that Calnan, junr., waa only interested m Wireless and bil-iiards-^not m his wife.

Joseph Calnan pere said the accommodation at the baths was good enough for anyone. For eighteen months of their' married life the young couple had stayed with him rent free.

The house at Haughton Bay was built for them, but his daughter-in-law would not go out. He never lived at the Bay, for he was compelled to stay at the baths.

Elsie's husband told the court that he did not recognize his wife m the street one day because she had previously told him she was "sick and tired of me and didn't want to see me any more." . Complaints his wife had made m court concerning his alleged drinking and billiard-playing were without foundation. To Lawyer Jnckson: "I did not go to see the child because I would have to see -the wife, and I did not want to see her after what she said." To his own counsel, Joseph said he was prepared to get help for his wife if she could -hot do the work m the home. v Talk of a separation, was indulged m by the parties, but the magistrate remarked that he. hoped they would come together again. Tn her present state of health the wife was entitled to maintenance, for it was obvious she was unfit to take up her duties as a housewife. In granting her maintenance at the rate of £1 a- week, with 18/- a, week for the child, the bench intimated that the matter might possibly be reviewed m a few months' ' time. Complainant would have interim custody ot the child.