INSINCERE NOTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19504, 4 February 1926, Page 5

INSINCERE NOTE

STRUCK BY DEFAULTER “AMBITION TO GET WIFE OUT.” MAGISTRATE “DRESSES DOWN” DEFENDANT. The note struck by Henry Sutherland Christie, a wharf labourer, to the effect that his ambition is to set up a home in New Zealand for his wife, who is in England, did not have a sincere enough ring to be impressive. Any way it did not appeal to Mr R. M. Watson, S.M., before whom Christie appeared at the Wanganui Court yesterday morning, to answer a charge laid under the Maintenance Enforcement Act in respect to his being in arrears in his maintenance payments to the extent of £B7 10s. The defendant was placed in the. witness box to explain the reason for his being remiss. He said he had paid what he could in the circumstances, but his employment was by no means regular. The prospects for the future, however, were brighter, and he would then be able to reduce the arrears. “My ambition is to get my wife out here,” he added. The Magistrate:—W T hy have you not gratified that ambition before now? Defendant: —I have been sending my money to my wife, and she has been spending it as she gets it. I have appealed to her to practise economy, but instead she has got into debt. The Magistrate:—Nonsense! You are not concerned with her debts but with the payment of these arrears. Turning to the Senior-Sergeant he added, “This man 1 am afraid is humbugging us. If ho wanted to get a home together he has had ample opportunity to do it. No matter what his wife is spending, he has got to keep up his maintenance payments.” The defendant pleaded that his trouble was that he did not get the same consideration on the wharf as other married men. The Magistrate: Do you say that the foreman selection system is not fair? Witness: “No.” He pointed out that conditions of labour were the trouble. The seamen’s strike had affected the shipping industry generally. Questioned concerning the work in connection with the Cyrena, witness stated that he was not working on the vessel. The Magistrate: Do you do any other work except wharf labouring?— No other work, sir. Have you kept any record of your earnings?—No. You know you should have done so! —“1 am not good at that sort of thing.” The Magistrate (significantly):—* 11 Um ph! ’ ’ Witness added that some weeks he earned less than his board, amounting to 30s a week. At present he had only 5s in his pocket, although he had some wages coming to him. The Senior-Sergeant: Do you drink? —I have not done so for a long time. The Senior-Sergeant: I will say, and it is to your credit, that I have not seen evidences of it for some time. Witness added that there had been good times for wharf labour in recent times.

The Magistrate: You don’t mean to tell me that you don’t get your fair share of the work going round. You must get your fair share. Why should you not? You are younger and healthier than a great many of the men on the wharf. The defendant said he had heard married men complaining about being back with their rent. The Magistrate: Never mind. They are bringing up their families, and that is a thing that you are not doing. The Senior-Sergeant said that the married men on the wharf had to earn their £4 a week. The Magistrate:—This is not good enough. He has got to be made to pay. There is no reason why he should not. He is a man in the prime of life, and apparently enjoys good health. The defendant observed that there was plenty of work coming. The Magistrate:—l will give you a chance to get it. 1 am not satisfied with the reasons for your arrears given me. The Senior-Sergeant remarked that the trouble seemed to be that the defendant had taken up an antagonistic attitude to his wife. Mr Watson: That is the whole position. That is what the whole history of the case shows. His Worship then recorded a conviction, and sentenced the defendant to three months’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended till March 1 next. The defendant is to be released on payment of £2O off the arrears ow’ing. The defendant said he had nothing saved. The Magistrate: Where did you get the £l5 you sent your wife before? The defendant explained that he saved it, but he could not get his wife out on a couple of pounds. The Magistrate: I don’t believe the Senior-Sergeant believes that is your ambition. You know where you stand, Christie? “I think so, sir,” meekly replied the defendant as he prepared to take his departure and earn the £2O that will prevent him from becoming a compulsory guest of the Government.