FAILURE TO MAINTAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19012, 1 August 1933, Page 9

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN.

YOUNG COUPLE AT LAW. "WANTED HOME OF HER OWN.” Differences which arose when the wife stayed with her husband’s parents were cited as the main reason giving rise to an application for maintenance made by Mona Gladys Reeves against her husba'nu, Philip Osborne Reeves, in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mr W. J. King appeared for the complainant and Mr C. Taylor represented the husband. Evidence was given by the wife that both parties were only 20 when they were married two years ago. Trouble arose between her husband’s parents, with whom they had resided, and herself. Despite frequent requests he refused to make a home for her and insisted on living with his people. After she had been told that she would be “kicked out of the back door" if she did not go she left with the child and was now living with her father, who was on relief and ill able to keep her. ’She was perfectly willing to live with defendant but had had enough of his parents. Mr Taylor submitted that there was no case to answer, but Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., who presided, ruled that there was evidence of failure to maintain.

Reeves, in the witness-box, claimed that (lie only reason why lie had not provided a homo for his wife was because lie could not afford it. He and his father were on relief work. The Magistrate said it appeared that defendant was completely under the domination of his parents and had no mind of his own. If he could not make a home for his wife he should go into a relief camp where he could earn more money.

Maintenance orders were made for the wife and child at the rate of 10s a week each.