FOR CHILD

NZ Truth, Issue 1207, 17 January 1929, Page 7

FOR CHILD

Married Man's Indiscretion WIFE A_BRICK (From "N.Z. Truth's" "Wellington Rep.) While the wife of Richard Edge, a young Wellington man, was m hospital for maternity purposes, he so far forgot himself as to commit an indiscretion* with a young lady friend of the family. THE folly of his act was exemplified when he recently found himself before Magistrate Salmon, giving cviI dence as to his means and his ability to support the child which was subsequently born as the result of his philandering. Lawyer Morris A. Dunkley, who appeared for the girl,! Jennie Teresa Meyers, stated that Edge admitted paternity of the child; It was only a matter of fixing the amount of maintenance. . Edge, prior to the child's birth, had signed an agreement to pay 7/6 a week, but later said he could-tiot afford this amount. Lawyer Dunkley said that the 5/- a week now offered by Edge for the child's support was' absurd. The girl's parents were not well off, and Miss Meyers herself was not m a position to work. "His wife is a brick to stick to him," added counsel. Edge, m answer to his counsel, Lawyer C. O'Regan, said that his earnings amounted to £4/10/- a week, but after meeting lodge and union dues and living expenses, he had very little left. His circumstances had not altered since he signed the agreemerit to pay 7/6 a week. He had made no provision for the contingency which he knew was coming. Lawyer O'Regan submitted that.s/--a week was sufficient, m view of Edge's financial position; but the bench said the girl also had to be considered. The burden should not fall on her. • The usual order m such cases was 12/6 or 15/-, added the magistrate. In the present circumstances, the most Edge could pay .was 7/6 a week, plus 2/6 a week to meet past maintenance, arrears of £2/12/6 and £12/12/- for medical expenses.