HUSBAND'S CANDOR

NZ Truth, Issue 1141, 13 October 1927, Page 5

HUSBAND'S CANDOR

— ». . Norman George Ebbutt Pays Maintenance To ffi^Wife (From *N.Z. -Truth's" Special Auck- • land Rep.) The traditional records that brand poor mother-in-law as a domestic strife-monger received a polish-up m the Auckland Maintenance Court last week when Norman George Ebbutt claimed that the rows which continually clouded his marital happiness were "through mothers-in-law." ItfORMAN was a very candid witness " — quite a pleasing exception to the average run of husbands who help to a hang out their family linen on the Judicial line. For instance, he gave a cheerful affirmative when Lawyer Schramm, ; who appeared for the wife, asked if [ . it were true that he had been keeping company with another girl. Violet Constance Ebbutt, the wife, , asked for a separation order and guardianship of her child on the grounds of wilful disobedience of a maintenance order -for £2 a week iseued m 1926. The husband's counterrequest was for a variation of the maintenance order. Further, Lawyer Jordan asked on behalf of the husband that the variaf tion might take the form of a cancel- > lation, as his client awaited an opportunity to take Violet back home. Norman, m the witness-box, said that since the maintenance order last year they had been living together. First at Violet's mother's place —that was ma-in-law No. 1; but she sold out, so they shifted and dropped anchor at his own mother's horne — that was ma-in-law No. 2. It was then that Violet had broken anchorage and drifted to her sister's place at Newton. Norman had given her all the money he possibly could, but his health was bad and he could not find light work; In fact, he had earned very little since February last. There were some things, however, that Norman had not mentioned, but they were of immense interest to Lawyer Schramm. The first was a little matter of £ 500 •wiiich Norman had received from his father's estate. "What did you do with the £500?" esked counsel, when Norman had admitted having to thank his father for this neat little figure. "I put it into a farm and other things," was the reply. Further questions regarding the expenditure of the £500 elicited the information that Norman's mother had •Jso been m the farm, which was at New Lynn. They had sold out and all Witness got out of it was £15. ■ Counsel: What became of the other fd2250? — I paid the nurse £16; I owed my brother £50 and bought a car for l£S5. M But that still loaves £100; what became of that? — My wife got £15 and I bought some clothes for myself. "I see," was counsel's sarcastic observation. "You spent £85 on yourself." THE OTHER GIRL Norman said "correct" to counsel's Inference that only one payment of £2 had been made m compliance with the order; he had only given his wife £3 or £4 during the last six months. Counsel: Were there not rows all the time between you and your wife?— Yes, but' that was through mothers-in-law! There was also some trouble over another girl, with whom you -were keeping company? — Correct. There was one thing, however, which Norman denied — and this was the aseertion that he told the third corner of the disturbing triangle that he would marry her. He was quite affable m his agreement with the lawyer that there had been a lot of trouble over his late hours, but he moderated the suggestion that it was generally 2 or 3 o'clock m the morning when he returned home. "Where were you at these late hours?" pursued Lawyer Schramm. Norman mentioned billiards as an I excuse. And this is the man who wants his wife back? Where will you take her to? — On the farm. Counsel contended that there was no farm, but Norman had hopes of finding a job somewhere on the land. The woman who had trespassed upon his affections, he said, was married; he also confessed to having followed his wife, but only on one occasion, when she had been "m company with a strange man." "What do you suggest m maintenence?" asked his worship and the wife's counsel consented tp, the .order being reduced to 30/- a week. "If he will only pay up," he added with emphasis. Magistrate Page: What about arrears? — It is really £70, your worship, but we have cut it down to £30. I don't think they should be wiped out. Norman George Ebbutt has now tc pay 30/- a week to his wife, with another 7/6 off the arrears — or take a month's imprisonment.