"MONEY TALKS, YOU KNOW," SAYS S.M.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18575, 25 September 1928, Page 8

"MONEY TALKS, YOU KNOW," SAYS S.M.

RABBITER GETS BIG AMOUNT REMITTED. Frederick Wilson Bell was charged in the Magistrate’s Court to-day that on April 23 he was £53 10s in arrears on a maintenance order for his wife. He denied the charge. The maintenance officer (Mr P. Jones) stated that the arrears to date amounted to £B2. Defendant was said to hav.e paid £6 to his wife recently. He went into the backblocks rabbiting, and seemed to think that the Court should not be taken into account at all. Defendant stated that his total earnings in the last seven months were not more than £2O, and in the last thirteen months the amount was £37. lie had been kicked by a horse, and had been laid up for some months. During that time he was boarded in a hut on a farm at Culverden, by a friend of his who was working on the farm. His board had not been paid to the friend. Defendant admitted that he had been before the Court for theft. The Magistrate (Mr B. D. Mosley): I feel inclined to reduce the arrears to £SO. The maintenance officer stated that he was willing to wipe off all arrears except £lO. ' That’s a good offer/’ said the Magistrate to defendant. "You are getting a new start.” Defendant: I can pay the £lO within a fortnight. The Magistrate: That’s right. Money talks, you know. Defendant was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour, the warrant to be suspended so long as he paid £lO within fourteen days.