HUSBAND AND WIFE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10156, 4 February 1911, Page 5

HUSBAND AND WIFE.

LIABILITY OF-THE HUSBAND. FOR GOODS SOLD AND DELIVERED. A decision affecting the liability of husbands for goods supplied to their wives was given by Mr L. G. Iteid, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Masterton yesterday afternoon. Messrs Hugo and Shearer, drapers, had claimed a sum of*£3 18s lOd from Patrick - Carr oh account of goods sold and delivered to the defendant's wife, now deceased. For the; defence it was stated 'that four years< ago the defendant had given notice that he would not be responsible for goods purchased by Mrs Carr from plaintiffs without a written- authority. His Worship cited an interesting case which had been decided in the Jaw courts of the Old Country. In that case the wife of a wealthy man had purchased goods and had them entered in her own name. She had also been in- the habit of. paying for the goods with her own cheque. The husband had 'oeen forced into the Bankruptcy Court, and it was sought to recover from the wife for goods purchased by her. The Master of the Roils held (and he was supported by the Privy Council of the House of Lords) that, the wife was an agent for her, and consequently * could not be made liable, Mr Reid, S.M., said this decision established the responsibility of the defendant in the present case. Apart from the law, however, Hrs Worship held that ■in equity and good conscience* the defendant was liable. Most of the goods purchased had gone into his household, and some of them had been sold by him at auction after, his wife's death. Judgment would therefore be given for the plaintiff for the. amount- claimed, with-costs' £3/Bs.;, Mr C. A. Pownall appeared for the plaintiffs, .and Mr Logan for the defendant.