WIFE DESERTION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1002, 17 December 1910, Page 4

WIFE DESERTION.

RECENT AMENDMENTS OF THE LAW. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) . Auckland, December 18. In the courso of a review of the jrCM visions of last session's Destitute Persons Act, tlio Attorney-General (Dr. Findlay) said the new law provides an effective means of bringing deserters back to New Zealand. In the past the deserted wife had to find £20 or £25 to cover tho cost of extradition', and it was of course impossible for a woman in destitute circumstances to procure such a sum. Provision is now made that in any case where the Commissioner of Police is satisfied with the bona fides, the Crown will defray the expenses of bringing the offender back, to bo dealt with according to law. "The most novel part' of tho new Act,", added Dr. Findlay, "is that providing for reciprocity between Australia and New Zealand. Provision is now made in our laws that where a man in Australia deserts his wife- and children there and comes to New Zealand, proceedings may bo taken against him in Australia in the most convenient court, and if an order is made against him it may be sent to New Zealand and filed in our courts here. Thereupon the deserter in New Zealand may be brought boforo our courts, and unless he can show good reason why tho order should hot havo been madej he will be compelled to contribute through our courts to the maintenance of his wife and children' in Australia. Having made_ this provision in New Zealand, wo are asking Australian States to make reciprocal arrangements so that husbands who desert their wives here may he similarly dealt with if they go to Australia-. .1 have no reason to doubt that the Australian State Governments will ultimately pass legislation on these lines. Under these provisions there is every reason to believe that desertion ; will become steadily less in New Zealand."