WIFE’S DIVORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1939, Page 11

WIFE’S DIVORCE

HUSBAND LIVING OVERSEAS NOT FREED. COMMENT BY THE JUDGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) . AUCKLAND, May 10. Granting a decree nisi in an undefended petition brought by a wife for divorce in the Supreme Cdurt today Mr Justice Callan requested that publicity be given to the fact that the divorce which the petitioner was in process of obtaining would probabably be no good outside New Zealand, and any assumption by the husband, believed to be living outside New Zealand. that he was divorced would be wrong.

The petitioner,' Edith Ida Haw, applied for divorce from John Thomas Haw on the ground of desertion. It was stated that tne cpuple were married at York, England, in 1918, while her husband was training for a commission in the Army. They had known each other since childhood. After the husband’s discharge from the Army the couple lived with the petitioner’s mother at York. They had disputes and separated, but were reconciled later.

They agreed to go to New Zealand at the invitation of the petitioner’s brother. The petitioner went first and her husband was to follow, but on arrival the petitioner received a letter stating that her husband was not coming. She had not seen him since or been able to communicate with him. Granting a decree, to be made absolute in three months, his Honour made the remarks already quoted, and said that should the husband hear of these proceedings and assume that ne was divorced he would probably be wrong and consequently would be committing bigamy if he married again. A uusband who deserted his wife did not deserve much consideration from the Court, but his Honour felt that publicity should be given to this aspect.