TRENTHAM INSTRUCTOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10275, 9 May 1919, Page 7

TRENTHAM INSTRUCTOR

SINGULAR CASE IN AUCKLAND POLICE COURT. :

‘A* singular story''was. told to Mr J. "SS. Wilson'; H.M.V at tho Auckland Police Court this week (states the ■ “Star”), when Arthur Chadwick .lame- ■ son, well known as a drill instructor in Trcntlmrn, was summoned for failure to comply with 'an' order to maintain ’ hiV-wife- aftd'ckild-.-'" »• ~

.Replying to Mr J* O. -Oonlan,--who appeared for the plaintiff, Jameson said he could not pay because he was not working. Ho was formerly an instructor at Trentham camp, but was transferred to Hamilton. Ho resigned from , the position because, owing to tho fact that the Defence Department had kept ■him af the various-camps during the war, he considered that there was no ’ chance of advancement, and; ns he was' entitled to the benefits of the Discharged Soldiers’ Act, he thought he would 5 go, in for a farm. He .earned £275 on the instructional staff, and had about j £7O when ho left. This had been re-duced'to-£7'in his search for a farm .under the-Discharged Soldiers’ Settle- , ment Act. He denied that he threat- , ,oned his Wife that if she, took proceed- : ings for maintenance he would throw up his job. .Mr Conlan: Did yon write and tell her. .there would bo a surprise packet waiting for her if she took proceed ngs ? >—l may have done so . Is it not a fact that you have made, or tried to make, the position difficult tor her by resigning?—That was not my object. -._■■■■■ “Defendant further denied that ho had ‘ boon keeping company with another j young woman, and asked why ho, did i not nay over the £7 ho had in.his pos- 1 session for tho maintenance of ids wife , and child, ho replied’that he needed it for himself. ' > Mr Wilson: So tho position, is that yon did not cm 6 what became of your \ wife and child because yoii Wanted the ' money yourself. ■ . The magistrate made an order for a month’s imprisonment, subject to a week’s suspension to enable defendant .> to pay.