A WIFE’S DESERTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1921, Page 6

A WIFE’S DESERTION.

PETITION FOR DIVORCE. DECREE NISI GRANTED. Desertion was the ground on which Henry Edward Alartin, carrier, of New Plymouth, sought a dissolution of' his marriage with Winnie Martin, of Dunedin, in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday, before Mr. Justice Reed. Mr. H. R. Billing appeared for petitioner, and there was no defence, a cross-petition being withdrawn.

Petitioner said he was married to the respondent at the Registrar’s office on Alay 15, 1907. After marriage he lived with his wife at various places in New Zealand —Greymouth, Invercargill Patea, Napier, Inglewood, and Paekakariki. About October, 1916, he came to New Plymouth. There were four children of the marriage, their ages ranging from four to thirteen. His wife left him in February, I*9lB. For months previous she had been going out a great deal at night, coming home at all hours. The youngest child was then only a few months old, and was being left in the care of a servant girl. The housework was also being neglected, though the servant was doing her best to help his wife. On one occasion he- remonstrated with his wife for not having the children’s breakfast ready in time to get them to school early, and in reply she told him to mind his own children. That day she gave witness to understand that she would be missing when he came home. He admitted he told her she might as well be gone as carrying on in such a manner. At half-past four that .day witness found that his wife had car ried out her threat, having gone away, and she took the youngest child.

Petitioner denied that lie had been responsible for his wife’s departure. Since leaving she had commenced proceedings on two or three occasions under the Destitute Persons Act, but he had always taken up the attitude that she could come back to the home if she liked, but he would not pay maintenance. His wife had claimed an allowance for the youngest girl, and subsequently he had taken charge of this child also. He was at present maintaining the four. Respondent had left him before at Napier, but he had persuaded her to return; this was in 1915; and she again left when he set up house in Invercargill. His Honor granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, interim maintenance to respondent (by consent) to be paid at the rate of £1 per week.