MAINTENANCE ORDERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12734, 2 September 1919, Page 3

MAINTENANCE ORDERS.

* AN INTERESTING POINT. [Ter Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, September 1« A ruling which, was given by Mr E. Page. S-Al, regarding the recovery of arrears in respect of maintenance orders may bring relief to the troubled minds of many who have found it necessary to invoke the assistance of the Magistrate’s Court to obtain from unwilling breadwinners the wherewithal to purchase the necessities of life. The question was brought up by Mr G. G. Watson, who appeared for the wife of - a roan who was charged with falling into arrears to the extent of £4, but who had, at the last moment, paid that amount into Court and thereby cleared himself as far as that information wag concerned. Mr Watson’s point wag that, according to a previous ruling* the defendant could be charged only in respect of arrears up to a date fourteen days prior to the issue of the summons, whereas he submitted that under the Act any person defaulting for anv period of fourteen days was liable lei ' ' a fine of £SO or six months’ imprisonment. In the case in point the defendant was actually still £3 in arrears, and the only course open to the wife was to take out a further summons for that amount. t Mr Page agreed with the contention," and said it would be iu order for counsel to specify the arrears up to date, and the Court would have jurisdiction to deal with the matter in full. He did not consider that it would be necessary to have the information amended, for defendants would be liable to a penalty if they defaulted for fourteen days- ’