TOLD TO MAKE A HOME FOR HIM

NZ Truth, Issue 1262, 6 February 1930, Page 7

TOLD TO MAKE A HOME FOR HIM

West Coast Wife's Story of Cruelty Not Accepted

GIVE AND TAKE IS NEEDED, SAID S.M. (From " N.Z. Truth 's" "Westpoi-t Representative.) With a miniature free-for-all for possession of a baby, games of penny poker, and heated' arguments between husband and wife with their respective families acting as seconds, the Christmas holidays provided much entertainment for the residents of the mining township of .Millerton, and a lot of bad feeling between Mr. and Mrs. John Watson.

IN fact,. Mrs. Watson thought she was quite justified In apnjyinff. to the Magistrate's Court "for a separation, maintenance -, and guardianship order, on the grounds of failure: to maintain and persistent cruelty. Mr. W. Me^drum,- S.M., thought otherwise and m dismissing the case gave a little helpful advice to the young" couple on their responsibilities as parents. ' Mr. aJ Li. Black appeared t f or the complainant, Mowmen May Watkon, and Mr. H. L<oVeil; for the husband, 'John Watson. : In opening his case Mr. Black said it was most unfortunate that the matter had to be brought to court as the wife was. only 20 years of age and the husband was 80. . ' > - They had spent the Christmas holidays at-.- Waimangaroa, near Westport, and it was during this holiday that their strained relations became acute. -. "••■.■■.'., . ' Mrs. Watson unfolded the story of. her short married life. She had been unhappy all her married life and on several occasions, she alleged, her husband had struck her. She liked dancing arid sometimes went to dances with her husband, but at other times by herself. ' On these -occasions, alleged the wife, when she came home she was often locKed outj;and^'ha'd}to get Jn through the window. „-- :^his:^wTaJs"/seiiftialiy when she went to/ dances .'withoiuti; her ihusr band's 'permission.. ' ' <«/ . '-.■■! Aifter her baby was born last year it was impossible for them both* to go. to dances. . They used to ■take.turns &t minding the baby, but when she came .home her husband used to ask who brought her home and make allegations., .' *' ■ • • . . | At Christmas time they decided to spend a holiday at Waimangaroa. She left Millerton on the" Saturday before Christmas and her husband Joined her on th'e following Monday and they stayed at Beynon's Hotel. Mrs. Watson went on to relate that on Christmas Day she was playing penny poker. After/the game she went to see the bab/ and her husband was m the bedroom "and he went off at me," she alleged, "for playing cards. He said I was wasting his money. When he was going up the passage he called me something nasty." ' .-■.'■ Mrs.. Watson said that next day •-' she went to the races at Westport and then' returned to Waimanga- . roa by herself. The following day ' 'she heard her husband had borrowed £2 ..from the bar and she " told him to pay it back. > . "We had an argument and he told me he was taking the baby ' home." Later she heard her husband had hired a special lorry and had left for Millerton with the baby. ' Mrs. Watson said she went' to Millerton the next day and found her husband at his mother's place which was next door to their, own home. She asked for the baby, but he would not give It to her. She sought the assistance of the local policeman and m his presence tried to persuade her husband to return to Waimangaroa for the rest of their holiday. • • The policeman suggested she should stay at Millerton, but as they had booked rooms; she wanted to return to. Waimangaroa., Her husband %hen said he wpuld keep the babyV. "I had hold of the v baby ! while the policeman was there," said the wifjß, "but as soon as he had gone he took it

from me so I went back to Waimanffa,roa." - -She said Bhe then returned to Millerton : and her husband brought the baby over to their own home. She went to dress the baby and take It for a walk to her brother's place, but her •husband would not let her gro. The Magistrate : Were ybu speaking to your husband?-— No.*, - Why not?— l had nothing -to gay- to him. It, I spoke It would only mean another; row::H : ; .-' "After^thebaby had; gone to sleep," she added, "I- told him I .was going to my brother's plsLbe-:^- — The Magistrate: Why were you going? — For; the same reason as he" goes to his mother. ' ( Mrs. Watson then alleged that an argument followed and he kicked her. .'-I then went to my brother's. The next day I left for Waimangaroa. As I was leaving m the ser- , vice car my husband came up and said he would stop my credit. I later saw a notice to that effect In thes paper." It was now that reinforcements were called m and the little entertainment staged for the people of Millerton,' for according to May's story her brother wired for her mother and father and when she next saw her husband she asked him for her bank book. He said he had not got it, but she ascertained from the post office that it was m his possession. ; -v <• When she got back to Millerton she endeavored to get the baby, but Mrs. Watson senior, she alleged, would not let her have it. Her husband's brother was also present at the time and* he tried to put her out:' 'T fought with him until he hit me and I fell." At that time she had her aunt, Mrs. Bbtwood, with her and sent her for assistance. Later her father and brother arrived on the 'scene and her father took possession of the baby and gave It to her. ■ "The baby had whooping cough," said Mrs. Watson, "and was filthy— like a. little pig." -..«■-..-.. Mr. Liovell: Yoti say, your husband struck you? — Yes. "■ Have you ever complained to anybody? — No. '• , ..;.,. ...., : Have you any marks on you? — Not now. -; ,*■-•■ ' : ;• •■ ' ■-\ ■' '-: Your husband seldom goes to dances?— He took turns with nic after the baby was born. ' , He gave you a good deal of liberty?^ but 'l; had to pay for it later; • ; I believe he had to go looking for you on. occasions?— Oh, he never ' did. ' \ l -.-: .: >'\.'*: •• : .-- ' ■.■-. ■■"■■ : On one occasion the baby was ill and yoii' went for some lembnjr; - and you were away four hou'rs?^! was only s : away ;an , hourw. at my brother's place. .;:. - - • "You needn't call any witnesses, . Mr. Liovell,"\ said theVj-nagistrate. ."I don't think It is a case where an order c^n be made. . There has been no proof o* failure -to maintain^ or persistent cruelty. No • doubt' there has been trouble on both sides. "It is the duty of the * husband to .support his wl£e and it is also her duty to'make a hope and live with her hus■band. '. ■■j"^-;^;'!;^..^' - .■-■:=■•••--.-•-...' "There has-been a certain amount of tension between the two and this h«r been accentuated by the relatives pn both sides. ; "These young people have a chUd to look after .■ai^d/Jt should be their duty tO lopk^/afte-c:; that child. For both partles^thfere. i^ need for a little more givevandjtitke. 1 ; 'On -legal grounds the applicatfpn be sustained."