CLAIM FOR MAINTENANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1922, Page 5

CLAIM FOR MAINTENANCE.

NON-COMPLIANCE WITH ORDER. At the Magistrate’s Court at New Plymouth yesterday, before Mr. A. Mowfan, S.M., Marmaduke Atkinson (Mr. A. A. Bennett) was called on to explain why he had failed to comply with a maintenance order for the support of his wife, Isabel Atkinson, for whom Mr. C. H. Croker appeared. The arrears amounted to £lB 2s and Mr. Bennett said that the main question was whether there was reasonable cause for the failure to pay. He contended that there was. When the order was made, the defendant had lodged an application, but this was abandoned on the strength of a letter from his wife that she would in future maintain herself. The defendant’s earnings before June 1 were £1 5s per week and found, but since then his pension on account of war injuries had been increased to 15s per week; giving him an income of £2 per week and found. The letter from the wife was produced, but Mr. Croker said he had ho instructions from Mrs. Atkinson, who was leaving by the Athenic to rejoin her relatives in England, not to press the claim. His Worship examined the notes he had made when the order was granted and which said that Mrs. Atkinson’s evidence was to the effect that she desired maintenance. Further she had arranged for the clerk of the court to collect the money. There was no doubt therefore that the amount must be paid. It was decided to adjourn the case for a month in order to give the defendant an opportunity of showing that he is in earnest in making an attempt to pay the sum due.