MAINTENANCE ARREARS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 157, 8 May 1940, Page 5

MAINTENANCE ARREARS

YOUNG MAN CHARGED LONG POLICE SEARCH The Maintenance Officer charged Lawrence Rossiter with disobedience of an order in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr B. S. Barry respresented Rossiter and Mr R. !• Smith appeared for Mrs Mary Rossiter. Defendant sought a variation of the order and the cases were heard together. Mr Barry said that after the ord r er had been made the parties lived together until December, 1938. During that time defendant had supported his wife and children. Under examination, Rossiter said he had lived with his wife in Opotiki and Whakatane since the order was made against him. He was working at the time of his arrest and wais willing to maintain his wife. Defendant admitted, under crossexamination by Mr Smith, that he had been going under another name. Mr Smith: Did you know that the police had had considerable difficulty in tracing you? Defendant: 1 did not kno'w. Mr Smith: Did you know that your wife had to obtain charitable aid? Defendant: I didn't know that. Mr Smith: Are you prepared toj live with your wife again? Defendant: In a sense. I am prepared to support her and the children. Wearing Disguise. Constable F. M. Fuller gave evidence on behalf of the Maintenance Officer. He said that when Rossiter left his wife a social organisation in the town had telephoned and told him (Constable Fuller) of the position and suggested that it should be investigated. He found that Mrs Rossiter's husband had cleared out and the children were starving—literally. "The police," said Constable Fuller, "have been chasing defendant all over New Zealand. He Avas arrested by me at Te Teko, wliere he was working under the name of Tracy, and he was then wearing big sunglasses in an effort, I presume, to hide his identity." Rossiter was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, the war-] rant to be suspended while he paid current maintenance and 2/6 per week off the arrears. The order against him was reduced to £6 up to January 17th, 1939.. while arrears from that date will be reviewed at a later date and depending on defendant's consistency in regard to current maintenance. RECRUIT CHARGED CASE ADJOURNED FOR A MONTH Also appearing on a maintenance disobedience charge was Robert Etiward Jamieson. for whom Mr Barry appeared. In this case the arrears until January, 1940, were £44 17s 6d. Mr Barry deiailed difficulties defendant had experienced in collecting certain moneys owing to him for contract work. He had been released from gaol on April 16th, and since then had been able to Sscure only casual employment. He had paid £2 10s since. Mr Barry added that defendant was to enter camp on May 15th. The case was adjourned until June sth. SUSPENDED WARRANT ARREARS REDUCED The third case dealing with maintenance was that in which George Ward Avas convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended Avhile de-< fendant pays 12/6 per Aveek. In a claim for variation the arrears payable by Ward AA'ere reduced to £30, the balance being remitted.