WIFE AND HUSBAND ALLEGE DESERTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 447, 31 August 1928, Page 1

WIFE AND HUSBAND ALLEGE DESERTION

divorce cross-petition WOMAN GRANTED ALIMONY Whether a husband deserted his , wife or the wife the husband was the basis of a divorce action heard in the Supreme Court this morning before Mr. Justice Reed. TTENRY CHRISTIAN WILLIAM LAWRENCE HANSSEN (Mr. Sullivan), petitioned for divorce from Mary Euphemia Hanssen (Mr. Dickson) on the grounds of desertion. The wife cross-petitioned on the same cause. In evidence, the husband said he was married in Ballarat, Victoria, in October, 1901. Two years later he and his wife came to New Zealand and lived at Waikino for over six years, then went on to Auckland. Matrimonial life was happy until 1923, when his wife developed a fondness for groins cut at night. In October. 1924. she left him. A note from her said: You will quite understand I will not come back, so I want to know what you intend doing as I am going to sell things off because they belong to me. Do not think I will let you off. I am not coming back. Through her counsel respondent denied knowledge of the note and counter-petitioned. “It seems,” said his Honour, “the parties want to give the public an op-portunity-of knowing all about their domestic affairs.” "The only reason why I am contesting this is because the woman’s health jg such that she must ask for maintenance,” said Mr. Dickson. “If it is only a question of maintenance I should think some arrangement could be made between the parties.” “If the court lets this woman get a divorce that would not in any way prejudice maintenance,” counsel argued. “In a case where both parties are guilty of misconduct, it is the practice of the court to grant a divorce in the caso of each,” remarked his Honour. After a conference between counsel it was announced that Mr. Dickson would withdraw the cross-petition provided the husband agreed to pay maintenance of £1 2s 6d weekly. His Honour granted a decree nisi to be moved absolute after the expiration of three months, alimony to be paid as agreed.