INQUIRERS' CORNER

NZ Truth, Issue 1201, 6 December 1928, Page 20

INQUIRERS' CORNER

p:i"::;;:::z::zs!!:!::::!:i;:!:::!!:!:::sconducted by ■"'mnterpreter/'=s^ ; || Answers will be published as early as possible after receipt of p ;ll questions and so. far as possible m order of rotation of receipt. || ; if' All. .letters must be written m ink and be addressed "Interpreter,' || ; ;\\ c/o "TruthV Manners Street, Wellington. While we take no ||- ■ ;.|1 responsibility for any answer given m these columns, every |j.: <■ || endeavor will be made to see that they are absolutely correct. || ;•• ; ii ,'■•'• Answers to, legal queries, must be accepted merely as a || |i , SU'deas to whether or not it is worth while going to the ex' §f || • ,-pehse of placing matters inquired about, m the hands of a |1 ; II -solicitor for further action! - : - .. ll li| .No replies can-be made by post. No .anonymous inquiries. |f ||. , will be answered, and inquiries' of thisnature will not be pre- 1| . || served.. Frivolities and questions not of general, interest will If . If,-.-- , not be .answered. if . ' iFjiiimiimniiiiimniimimniiimimiHiiiiiininiimNitinnimiiiiniiiiiiiiimnmiimiiijiim^ ritmimmji piimimuniirtinntiiimnmniimtnii niiiiimiiiiiniiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiitmiiiiiiupiiiiiHiiinitiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiihi miniiiiiimiitiiiiiiimiiimniiiimiiuimiiliimiiuiimia •

MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE. V :-• Q.: !(1') If a. girl 18 years of .. age wishes to leave/ home, can she (3o so without her parents', consent? (2) Can a girl under the age of 21 get married without her parents' consent? — "M.A.P." (Napier). A.: (1) Yes, provided she is able to support herself and lives a respectable life. (2) No. If it is unreasonably refused, she may apply to a judge or magistrate for permission to marry. LEGAL. Q.: Is it necessary to have a solicitor to go bankrupt and what can he charge? What is the advantage of confessing a debt? — "Worried" (Havelock North). A.: Although not absolutely necessary it is advisable to have a solicitor. You are protected against overcharges as section 174 of the Bankruptcy Act prohibits any bankrupt paying a solicitor more than the actual filing fee £ 6 which goes to the court and £ 2 2s. towards legal costs. Any excess is recoverable by the assignee. Confession lessens costs and prevents publicity. Q.: I paid a dentist for a set of teeth, but they have never fitted from the start. He says the reason is that my mouth has no suction. Can I recover the price or any part of it? "Done Over" (Invercargill). A.: It is doubtful. The answer depends on all the facts. Every tradesman must show . the average skill of hja trade and if he fails he is guilty of negligence. The fact that the teeth have never fitted is prima facie proof of want of skill, but if the dentist can show that the result is due to some pecularity of your mouth you will fail. Q.: 1 owe a grocer an account. He puts same. into lawyer's hands to collect. Must I pay the collecting fee of 2/- m the pound? "Anxious to know" (Runanga). A.: No. You are liable to pay ex-, penses only m the event of his suing, and then only costs as per Magistrate's Court scale. Q.: A minor secures credit for clothes, unknown • to his parents, and spon after loses his position and does not acquaint the parents of the debt. The father pays (as soon as he knows) a portion of the debt, but then files m bankruptcy. (1) Is the father still liable for the bal-. a nee of the debt? (2) Can the creditor sue the minor (who is now of age) and recover the balance of the debt? — "Minor" (Palmerston North). A^: (1) If the circumstances of the payment amount to ratification of the son's agency, the father's estate will be liable for the balance. (2) If the clothes were of such a nature as to be deemed necessaries, the minor is liable for payment. If, however, they were dress suits or articles of a similar nature there would be no obligation to pay the amount, although the return of the clothes could be demanded. Q.: (1)' I lent a sister some money. She is to be married at Christmas. Cany I take proceedings against her 1 after she is married? (2) Would her j husband be responsible? (3) How would I set about it? (4) Who would have to pay expenses? — "Inquirer" (Marton). ' ' A.: (1) Yes. (2) No. (3) See a solicitori (4) The party who loses the action.. HOUSING AND RATES. Q.: I purchased a house at £1 a week, to be mine m twenty years, and paid £1 deposit. I have now left the house owing rent. Can the landlord compel me to pay what money is owing?—" Worried" (Shannon). A.: Yes. He can also sue you for future payments, as well ag proceed to sell the house at your risk. Q.: What, property or income may I have and still recelye the full old age pension? Will my husband's earnings go to diminish the pension?—^'Worried''' (Auckland). A.: The full pension of £45 10s. per annum will be diminished by £1 per jinnum for every £ 1 income m excess of £52 per annum or by £1 for every complete £10 of accumulated property m excess of £50 whichever leads to the greater reduction! You must bring your husband's earnings into account. Add your husband's yearly earnings to your own and divide by two, and the Result is deemed, to be the yearly income of each of you.

PROPERTY RIGHTS. Q.: Some time ago I. agreed. to buy two acres of suburban' forests m a block of about thirty acres. "Terms, £5 on application and 20 payments of £ 1 per month per acre, when clear title will be handed to the purchaser." (1) What costs am I liable for? (2) What is the meaning of "clear title will be handed to the purchaser"? — "Costs" (Sydenham). A.: (1) The costs should be under £5. (2) You will receive the property free of all encumbrances such as mortgages and other claims. Q.: I have a property m a borough. Am I compelled to clear the gorse off the roadway m front of my property, or does this rule apply only m a county ? : — "Prickles" (Balclutha). A.: It applies to any roadway at all. The Noxious Weeds Act applies to boroughs as well as counties, and there is no reason why the word "road" m Section 3 should not be taken to Include a street m a borough. WAGES AND PENSIONS. Q.: I am 62 and m five years will qualify by residence for the old age pension. My only property consists of three mortgaged houses, m one of which I reside. How must I deal with the property m order to qualify for the full old age pension? — "Drake" (Chrlstchurch). V A.: Sell the two houses you are letting and use the purchase money m paying off the mortgage on the house you are living m. No deduction is made for a home whatever the value. If, as suggested, you give the properties to your children you will run the risk of being disqualified as well as losing the properties. GENERAL. Q.: I have a car insured against fire and accident. While out driving the hood was blown off by the wind. Is that an accident or an Act of God? — "L.Q.R." (Napier). A.: The exact wording of the policy must be considered. Subject to that, the occurrence according to the ordinary use of language is fairly deseribable as an accident. Q.: If Mr. Black pnts firewood at £1 per load for Mr. White, should Mr. White insure Mr. B 1 a ck ? — "W.R." H ere - taunga). A.: The general rule is that it fs only workers under contracts of service who come Within the Work- • ers' Compensation Act; contractors are not covered. isut if the contract involves the cutting of standing timber or scrub or clearing land of stumps or logs, then the contractor shall be deemed to be working under a contract of service. Consequently, the employer will be liable and should insure. . . . Q.: Can a boxer on a visit from Australia to New Zealand be penalized for income-tax on moneys under £3qo .earned m matches here during a period of, say, three months? "Boxer" (Wellington). ■■":■ A.: If he is an absentee he is not entitled to the £300 or other exemptions customarily allowed. He is an absentee if his home has not been m New Zealand during any part of the income year. ; Q.: Can a girl having- had an illegitimate child two years ago and who will be twenty-one m January be stopped from going -out at night l>y her parents if she comes home ;it a respectable hour? "Bristol" ' (Wellington). . A.: As long as she stays at home her parents are entitled to exercise reasonable control over her actions. If she is disobedient they can turn her out Q.: I hold 50 contributing shares of £1 each m a concern that has gone into voluntary liquidation; amount paid, £30. Tlie liquidator has now made a call of 7/- per share. Must I pay that?— "W.O." (Walhi). A.: Yes. You remain liable for calls until the whole £50 is paid up. Q.: Can I change a child's Christian name after it has turned twelve months? — "Anxious" (Rotorua). A.: You can do so within twelve months not from the birth of the child but from the date of the original registration of birth, or m the case of an adopted child within two years from that date.