WIFE WENT SHORT

NZ Truth, Issue 1204, 27 December 1928, Page 7

WIFE WENT SHORT

Skin-buyer Who Was Skinflint In Supporting Family If lan Augustine Mackay; of Wellington, hasn't the hide of a rhinoceros he ought to foe feeling very subdued after the outspoken comments directed towards him by Magistrate Salmon m the Wellington Maintenance Court. . /

•TALL, immaculately groomed and X wearing pince-nez, Mackay was - the personification of confidence, and self-esteem when he stepped into the box to tender his explanation why. he' happened to be about. £29 m arrears, with a maintenance order m favor of his wife and children. As an opossum-skin buyei\ Mackay has earned £424 m commission since July, but all he has seen fit \6 hand over to his wife under the order is £44/10/-. In an attempt to. excuse his parsimonious attitude towards his family, Mackay made a long explanation- about expenses, among which was included an old debt of £60. The Bench (in'digriantly) : Yes, ' but you have been living very extravagantly. You put down. £150 for expenses for thirteen weeks. Mackay: Well, I have n.ever done it for less than £10 a, week. The Bench: Well, all I can say is that you must cut down your expenses. Evidently you travel like the Duke of Plaza Toro. , ', Lawyer Jackson: What money have you got now? — Nothing. What is your wife and family to do? Do you know you have paid them less thanv£l a week'?—

The Bench (interrupting) : That will do. I have heard enough. Turning to Ma.ckay, his worship remarked: "You paid £60 to an old creditor. Do yoii realize that these are small children? Mackay: I know it is very humiliating. ' , The Bench: What about your family. You haven't shown them much, consideration. Mackay: I was forced to pay that £60. The Bench: You Were not. You are a bankrupt and the official assignee conducts your' business. You have behaved m an extremely callous mannerl You will be cbhvicte.4 and sentenced to three months' impn's(onmeni, the warrant to be suspended so long as you ' pay £3/2/6 a week. Lawyer Jackson, hb^yever, wasn't quite satisfied, and 'asked his honor if Mackay could pay a sum to tide the wife over Christmas. "He ought to" be thoroughly ashamed of himself, the way hie has treated her," added counsel. ■' '.' : ■ ■ /;. '■■'.-■'. .; "■":' ■■' '■■■ Finally Mackay was bi'dered to pay .£lO --to his wife and thereafter the amount stipulatecl each weelj:;'