MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5276, 18 May 1928, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

SEPARATION AND MAINTENANCE. ORDER MADE BY BENCH'. At the local Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr, F. W- Platts, S.M., Mrs Ruby Eunice Short, Paeroa, sought separation, maintenance, and guardianship orders against her husband, Thomas: Sydney Short, labourer, Paerpa, on the grounds of failing to provide her and four infant children with adequate maintenance, and also that he was an habitual inebriate.

Mr C. N. appeared for the complainant' and stated that the payties were married at Auckland in 1.914. There were four children, aged 12, 8,6, and 4 years. Ln 1919 the defendant returned from the war and went into partnership with his brother ini ;a, carrying business. The partnership was dissolved about three years ago. Defendant’s trouble was drink, and through that he had been unable to provide for his wife a.nd family. 'When sober he was. a good husband and father, and had never been convicted for drunkenness. In November, last the brother dispensed with defendant’s services on account of his habits. The brother, had; been good to defendant, 'antd had done all h,Q could to assist him and his family. After doing odd work for the Public 'Works Department and the Paeroa Borough Oohncil defendant lost both positions and; ihad done little work since. In 3.4 ,weeks he had contributed ony £B. In evidence Mrs Short said that the wages earned by her husband while working for his brother was £4' 10s a week, but’she rarely received more than £2, and; from that £1 a week had to be ptaid' for house rent. She had received no money at al l while ‘he was woirking for the borough. He had been asked to give up his job with the Public Works Department on account of his drinking habits.

The ihagistate said: tlirat if defendant was not earning much' it would be difficult to make a maintenance order for future maintenance. Air O’Neill contended that the defendant should be macle to contribute something towards his wife and fa.ml|y. . The magistrate, said 1 '.that a separation and guardianship orders would: be grartted, and under a maintenance order defendant would be ordered to pay £1 a wciek to his wife and 55.. a week for each of tlie fol nr children, plus £1 Is costs.