MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5285, 11 June 1928, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

CLAIM FOR MAINTENANCE.

VARIATION OF ORDER REFUSED.

At the Magistrate’s Court at Paeroa on Thursday, before Mr F. AV. Platts, S.M., George AVilkrnson, was charged with failing to pay ■maintenance at the rate of lOfe a week in respect of ills infant daughter. Arrears amount, to £ll 108, to May 7, were claimed. A second charge of failing to provide £1 10s a week under ;an order dated October 4, 1926, in respect of his wife and first child was also preferred'. In this case arrears amounting to £32 14s were claimed. An application for variation of tlie orders op account of reduced circumstances was sought by AVi'lkinson, for whom Mr C. N. O’Neill appeared. Mr O’Neill .explaned that maintenance fcr, the wife ■ and 'son was made in October, 1926, at the rate of 30s a week, and some months, later another order for the maintenance of a daughter at the rate of 10s a week was made. The husband was earning £4' 7s a week at the time of tlie last order, but a month la.ter he lost his position. After three .months’ unemployment he secured work, his weekly earnings averaging £2.odd. To Mr R. S. Carden Wilkinson admitted keeping another woman. The,magistrate said that W'lkinson was now in constant employment a wage of £4 ,1s a week, and it was his duty to provide for. his wife and children. While in constant employment he should pay, a,nd if he was dismissed he should then apply for a variation of the order.

Mr Carden stated that Mrs Wilkinson was agreea.bie to a deduction of £lO off the arrears on. condition that her husband paid the £2 a week regularly. An order was made ,as suggested, in default three months’ imprisonment.