GAMBLING HIS HOBBY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 25, 22 September 1931, Page 3

GAMBLING HIS HOBBY

HUSBAND'S FAILING "BOOKIES WOULD HAVE BEEN BANKRUPT WITHOUT HIM" WIFE GRANTED SEPARATION "It is no exaggeration' to say that some of the bookies would have been bankrupt if he had not been here.," said Mr. E. Roe in the. Rotorua Magistrate's Court yesterday, when describing the failings of a defendant in a separation action who did not appear to answer his wife's petition for separation, guardianship and maintenance. The petitioner was Celina Miller, of Rotorua, and the defendant, James Leslie Miller, a Rotorua bootmaker. Mr. Roe who appeared for the v/ife, and that Miller had not supported the petitioner for the past two years. The husband was a young man of some ability, but gambling was his trouble. "It is no exaggeration to say that some of the bookies would have been bankrupt if he had not been here," added Mr. Roe with a smile. Celina Miller in evidence, stated that she had married the defendant in 1922 and there was one child of the marriage. Her husband had not supported her for the last two years and she had been working in different boardinghouses to support herself. She asked only a nominal maintenance for herself — perhaps a shillling a week — but she was making application for 12/6 a week maintenance for the child, and also for its guardianship. The Magistrate: How it -is that your husband has not supported you? He drinks too much and gambles. Mr. Roe sa:d that 18 months ago, the husband had taken out a prohibition order but it has since run out arid gambling was now his hobby. The Magistrate made an order for separation, guardianship and maintenance at the rate of ls a week for the wife and £1 a week for the child.