MATRIMONIAL OBLIGATIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10612, 12 May 1896, Page 2

MATRIMONIAL OBLIGATIONS.

Two cases ia which wives sued their husbands for maintenance were beard at Inveroargill last week. In both cassis (reports the Southland Times) the husbands expressed their willingness to return to their homes and do what they could for their families, but the wives objected, and the Magistrate made orlers. In one case, Mr Hanan, who appeared for the husband, argued that as the worn in bad left her husband without any cause and he was willing to have her back ho could not be asked to keep her away from home. Mr Poynton, the Magistrate, said any alleged improper conduct on the part of the woman could not affect the case. It would not matter if she were living with a Chinaman if she came to Court and proved that she was destitute her husband must support her so long as he recognised her as his wife. In such circumstances his only remedy was the Divorce Court. The fact of her being destitute nua-;t tbat she must be supported, and cue State would not do that so long as she had a husband able to support hor.\ Mr Hanan urged that such an argument would seem to kill all restitution of conjugal rights. As to that, ieplie-1 Mr Poynton, the House of Lordi has ■ eoided that there is no such thing is conjugal rights, and a husband cannot coraf el his wi'o to live with him. Mr Hnnan objected that there was no'equality about such a Liw, and he considered it would have the e£fe:t of dimin shin/ marriages if it were to be generally kuown that a wife could, without cause, leave her home and compel her husband to maintain her whare she chose to go. As to the inequality, Mr Poynton said ho thought that if a husband left his home without cause and bec»me destitute, his wife, if she had property in her own right, 3ould be made to support him. Washington, May 11.— -The United States Government has ordered a battalion in Florida to prepare for action, md sent orders for the navy to assemble in the event of the Spanish Government refusiug to give way to President Dloveland's ultimatum,. Havannah, May 11.— General Weyler, 3pacish Comrnander-in-Chjof, will resign mless th.c death, sentence is carried out.