SILENT FOR YEARS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20107, 28 March 1928, Page 8

SILENT FOR YEARS

THEN CLAIMS MAINTENANCE INFORMATION DISMISSED. “I make a mistake” was the reply of Hesta Romanos, a Syrian woman, when she was asked at the Alagistrate’s Court why she had not applied for maintenance from her husband, from whom she had been separated for ten years. Airs Romanos took proceeding against her husband for disobedience of a maintenance order, and she claimed £360 arrears. Air C. F. Treadwell appeared for respondent and Air C. S. Brown for complainant, whose plaint was filedd under section 39 of the Destitute Persons Act.

The respondent asked for a remission of arrears and cancellation of the maintenance order, on the grounds that since the date of the granting of the order, his wife had ben living with another man. Moreover he had obtained a decree nisi against complainant for alleged adultry, but the decree had not been made absolute.

Complainant gave evidence as to what had taken place since she had left her husband. She admitted going to live with the other man, stating that she was his house-keeper.

The Afagistrate’s contention was that even if a wife had committed adultery that was not sufficient to cancel an order. The information for disobedience of the order was dismissed and the arrears of maintenance were remitted as from Alarch 26, 1928. Holding that he had not sufficient information concerning tljc conduct of the parties at the time when the separation order and decree nisi was made, he felt he could not exercise his discretion properly in the matter. Therefore he declined to cancel the maintenance order. Security for appeal was fixed at £l5 15s. ‘