MAINTENANCE CASES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5424, 15 May 1929, Page 2

MAINTENANCE CASES.

APPLICATIONS AT PAEROA. FINDINGS OF MAGISTRATE Before Mr F. W. Platts, S.M., in the Paeroa Magistrate’s Court on Monday the following cases were heard : ARREARS OF MAINTENANCE. E. C. Dally, Maratoto, who did not appear, was charged with arrears of maintenance amounting to £3B 11s sd. One order was for one child, anotherfor three, all in the care of the State. Inquiries showed that defendant was now living with another woman with three children at Maratoto, where he earned on an average £l6 a month in the employ of the Public Works Department. The magistrate gave judgment of three months’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended provided defendant paid £2 every fortnight, first payment to commence on Friday fortnight. VARIATION OF ORDERS. A. D. Lawrence, Paeroa, applied for a variation of maintenance order in respect to three grandchildren. Evidence was given that the children in question were orphans, and that the complainant at the time of the first order had voluntarily agreed to help towards the cost of their maintenance by the State to the best of his ability. The order in 1926 was for 10s a month for each child. Lawrence now applied for a reduction. Applicant (Mr E. A. Porritt), giving evidence, said that the circumstances had changed from when the order was first made. He was employed as a slaughterman at the county abattoir, calming £5 a week, out of which he had to pay 5s a week rent. His son, who had previously helped him with his work, and helped him in the matter of paying maintenance, married recently, with the result that his contribution towards the maintenance ceased. As the son no longer worked for him, Lawrence had to employ help once a week at 14s a day. He had a wife and four children wholly dependant on him. As for the grandchildren, one was now 15 years of age, and was employed on wages on a farm ; the second also worked on a farm, but without pay, and the third was still in a State school at Christchurch. Under the circumstances Lawrence asked that maintenance, as far as the eldest child was concerned, should be stopped, and a reduction be made for the other two. He was quite willing to contribute to the best of his ability. So far all moneys had been. paid immediately when due, there were no arrears ; but he asked for a reduction in case he could not in future meet the full'/payments. The magistrate in giving judgment said it was quite right that the first child should be omitted. In regard to the other two, he would reduce maintenance to 7s 6d a month each. Frank Kensington, Eketahuna, who did not appear, asked for a variation of maintenance order, owing to altered circumstances, for an illegitimate child. Arrears amoiinted to £4O. Complainant in written evidence stated that he was employed and was earning £4 12s 6d a week. He was married, and had two children, the second one being born since the order had been made. He had no assets. A little interest he had on his grandmother’s estate in England would not fall due for seven years. His rent had been increased from 7s 6d to 12s 6d. Judgment was given for £l3 of the arrears, and £1 a month in the future ; the original order to stand.