MOSTLY BEER

NZ Truth, Issue 1150, 15 December 1927, Page 9

MOSTLY BEER

Herb, Took Far Too MucrKof It (Prom "N..Z. Truth's" Special Auckv land Rep.) A craving for drink op the pa,rt of her husband Percy Herbert Gunderson, eventually resulted in . his wife, Bella Baird Gunderson, suing for and obtaining her divorce from him. .. THE story which the 'petitioner told . his honoi\ Judge Reed, last week at the -Auckland Supreme Court; inthat she had not found in marriage 'at Otorohanga in 1924 the restful haven which is the; desire of most '-women; From early in. their married life he drank excess, In fact, as the pleasant looking woman in the witness-box said, "ffe'wasialways di'unk." Drink losfc -him his war; pension, ■' and instead of helping 'her run her board-ing-house, he left her, and when she .threw' up the house he never maintained her. " .Then Mrs. Gunderson went, to Rotorua and every time Percy came to see her, he was drunk. She thought that by going to no-license King Country, she would have him away from liquor —little she knew—and she took on the management of a cook-house at a saw mill at Tapuwai, but it seems her experiences were an eye-opener. liater her husband left. Not only left but took, all her .jewellery; with him. When he came, back to see her ' it was to ask for money, and being . refused he struck her. One" of Gunderson's fellow workers, Amosj. Frederick West, was called in support of the petitioner's case and his evidence went' to show that every time'he had met the husband 'he had been drunk or Under the influence of drink.- The two men met In Auckland last - Easter when Gunderson was practically down arid out and wanted money for drink. West refused to give him arty but said that he was willing to give him money for food.