MAINTENANCE CASE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5485, 9 October 1929, Page 2

MAINTENANCE CASE.

INVOLVED PROCEEDINGS. CASE DEFERRED. At the Paeroa Magistrate’s Court on Monday, before Mr F. W. Platts, S.M., G. Wilkinson, junr., of Tirohia, was charged with disobedience of a maintenance order, arrears amounting to £74 10s up to August 28. Mr C. N. O’Neill appeared for defendant and Mr R. S. Carden for appellant. The case was very involved, defendant at the present time living with another woman by whom he had children, and his wife apparently living with another man. The disposal of these children amongst various relatives involved a knotty problem. For the defendant Mr O’Neill said his client had understood from his wife that the case was to have been dropped, and the proceedings had taken him completely by surprise, and leaving him no time to prepare a proper defence. Mr O’Neill applied for an adjournment for one month to enable him to bring his evidence before the court. Mr Carden submitted that any evidence produced could not affect the present proceedings, but that a summons for the variation of the order should be lodged. He pressed for an order for payment of arrears. After hearing the evidence of the defendant the magistrate decided that it would be best for all parties to adjourn the present proceedings for a month, on the understanding that the evidence mentioned by Mr O’Neill be placed before the court next court day, and on condition that the defendant in the meantime paid the current maintenance, in default one month’s imprisonment. Mr Carden’s claim for a fee was disallowed by the magistrate.