A TRENTHAM INSTRUCTOR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7565, 8 May 1919, Page 7

A TRENTHAM INSTRUCTOR.

IMPRISONMENT THREATENED,

THE FAMILY OR THE FARM ?

A singular story was told to Mr. J. &. Wilson, S.M., at the Auckland Police Court on Tuesday, when Arthur . G&adwick Jameson,"welMcribwn as a drill instructor in Trenthanij was summoned for failure to comply with an order 1j maintain his wife and child.

Replying to Mr. J. C. Conlan,' who appeared for the plaintiff, Jameson said he could not pay because he was not working. He was formerly an instructor at Trentham Camp, but was transferred to Hamilton. He resigned from the position because, owing to the fact that the Defence Department had kept him at various camps during the war, he considered there was no chance of advancement, and as he was entitled 4° the benefits of the Discharged Solders' Act, he thought he would go in tor a larm. He earnei £275 on the instructional staff, and had about £V 0 when he left. This had been reduced to £7 in his search for a farm under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement A^.- He denied that he threatened his wife that if she took proceedings for maintenance ne would throw up his job.

Mr. Conlan: Did you write and tfil her there would be a surprise packet waiting for her if she took proceedings?—l may have done so.

Is it not a fact that you hava made, or tried to make, the position difficult for her by resigning?—Tiia 1, was not my object.

Defendant further denied that he had been keeping company with another young woman, and, asked why he did not pay over the £7 he had in his possession for the maintenance of his wife and child, replisd that he needed it for himself.

Mr. Wilson: So the position Is Shat you did not care v:hat became of your wife and child because you wanted the money yourself.

The Magistrate made an order for a month's imprisonment, subject to a week's suspension to enable defendant to pay.