DESERTING WIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27266, 17 December 1949, Page 8

DESERTING WIVES

PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE BY HUSBAND JUDGES’ OPPOSING VIEWS PA AUCKLAND, Dec. 16. Disagreement with the policy of not paying maintenance to a wife who leaves home against her husband’s wishes, was expressed by Mr Justice Stanton in the Supreme Court. In an application by a husband who sought the return of his wife, it was stated that the petitioner was not paying her maintenance and his counsel indicated that this policy had been followed on his advice. The wife went to Melbourne on with her husband’s consent, but had since refused to return. “There are possibly differing views on this question, and it no doubt depends on circumstances,” said his Honor, “ but personally, I think willingness on the man’s part to help his wife financially will go farther towards bringing about a reconciliation than anything else.” , Mr Justice Callan has several times expressed himself in the Supreme Court in Auckland as being against the payment of maintenance to a deserting wife. When an application by a husband who was paying his wife, who had left him, £3 10s a week came before him in October, he adjourned the case and advised the petitioner to stop paying maintenance. “You should help yourself by trying the economic way,” he said. “I will not deal with this case.