NEW ZEALAND MAINTENANCE ORDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18761, 15 January 1923, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND MAINTENANCE ORDER

ACTION TAKEN IN LONDON. (From Our Own Correspondent.) i LONDON, November 30. At Marylebone Police Court a few days ago there was a sequel to an order made by a Now Zeeland magistrate against a man, now partner in a Kilburn motor business, directing him to contribute towards the maintenance of his wife and family. Tho proceedings, which were to confirm the dominion magistrate’s order, were taken at tho instance of the Secretary of State 'for the Colonies, under the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act, 1920, and tho case was stated to be the first of its kind, at least in London, carrying out th© reciprocal agreement that has been made between the various parts of the Empire. Defendant, Albert Richard Bannister, was summoned to show why an order mad© against him by the stipendiary magistrate ai Tauranga should not be confirmed or modified. The order, which was made on the ground of desertion, directed him to pay 90s a week for the support of his wife and two children in Tauranga, and an additional sum of £46 for their maintenance prior to the order. Mr J. H. Kearns, the defendant’s solicitor, said that under the Act defendant could offer no excuse except that allowed by the magistrate at Tauranga; nevertheless, defendant entirely repudiated the charge of desertion, and claimed that as his income was under £3 a week he could not possibly comply with the order. Giving evidence, Bannister said his wif© left England of her own accord on August 11, 1920, and was residing with her father, Thomas James Gardner, at Tauranga. H© intended to rejoin her there on the cbmple- . tion of a patent that the firm had in hand. Mr Symons confirmed tho order of tho magistrate at Tauranga, but modified it to the extent of directing defendant to pay 30a a week as from December 2. He urged defendant, however, to send his family more, and to return to them as soon aa possible.