FATHER LASHED WITH SCORN

NZ Truth, Issue 1238, 22 August 1929, Page 1

FATHER LASHED WITH SCORN

IF SIR JOSEPH WARD RETIRED

Disregard For Welfare of Children Scathingly Censured (From ' ' N.Z. Truth s Hastings Representative) . Looking anything but a picture of prosperity, Leonard Grant made an application to Mr. A. M. Mowleihf S.M., at the Magistrate's Court m Hastings for a variation of maintenance orders m respect of his three children, who are at present under the care of the State.

SENIOR- SERGE&NT DEMPSEY told the Magistrate that the orders were made m 1919, at the rate of 10/- per week for each of the three children, but apparently with men like Grant, orders counted for naught, for he had paid nothing m that time. His Worship: What! He has paid nothing m ten years? Well, he must be back to the extent of about £780. The Senior-sergeant: That is correct, Your Worship. The arrears amount to £773/10/-. In answer to questions by the seniorsergeant, Grant admitted that the three children were by, his first wife. The Sergeant: -Bid she divorce you? 1 Grant: Yes. And are you married again?^-Tes. f „ How many children have you by the second wife 7-H-Three. Did you have any other children? — Yes. I had an illegitimate child. ' The' Sergeant: Have you been to prison m connection with any of these, orders? , Grant: Yes, I served terms of two months and also, six months. i His Worship: It seems to me that there is only one thing you can do properly and that is, become the father of children. You have not worried one iota about those three children' of your

first wife For ten years you have paid nothing and have just left them to the care of .the State. Grant: But she got married again, sir. His AVorship: She! She! But the children didn't and you didn't care a jot about them. "I've got no time fof*a man who neglects his children. A man who does that is not a man. It doesn't matter so much about your wife. She is a woman' and can look after herself. And now you're married again. "Well, make up your mind thatyoU're not going to get out of the whole of this £780. Don't think you, caij. come here after not paying for; .teh^^ years,, and because the amount ofrthe arrears are beyond you, get out of spaying any- J thing. ' . . "You would get some work there, at any rate, and some of the ; money you would earn would go to keep your children. You had-better step out of that box before I say something harder to you. ." •; "I will remit the arrears to the extent of £200 m the case of each child, arid I. am expressing the hope that the State will see to it that 'he is made to pay the balance." - • •