MONDAY, MAY 21, 1922.
WIFE'S DRESS RIGHTS.
his credit for necesaries suitable to their style of living.
JUDGE AND PRODIGAL WOMEN.id:
In an important judgment in the King's Bench Division Mr. Justice McCardie draned the law regarding the right of a wife to pledge her husband's credit. He said that marriage itself gives her no authority at sil and, in a postage sprinkled with may epigrams, the bachelor judge, discussing feminine diess standards, said he failed to se circumstances which would just fy 50 or 60 dresses in the course of a year.
Proceeding, Mr. Justice McCardie! How-is-the-presumption of fact to be rebutted? The husband can negative liability by proving":
That he expressly warned trades men net to supply goods on credit;
That the wife 1493 supplied with sufficiency of the article in question:
BERI-BERI.
DISEASE INCREASING.
THE CHINA MAIL.
The Kuala Lumpur correspondent of the Financial Times, in a letter, reports that hari beri is stated to be on the increase in this and neighbour alreadying countries. Although the official figures so far:ublished do not bear out this repart, it can be taken for granted that there is some incresse of the disease in this country since The Government control of ice was lifted some months ago. It is not disputed that during the period of that control, when Siam restricted exports and India was unable to send us rice, there was a marked decrense of the disease.
That the wife was supplied with a sufficient allowance;
That the husband expressly forbade his wife to pledge his credity.
Thas the order for necessaries was excessive in point of extent or, having smallness of the regard to the husband's income, exfraragant.
Those pin's said Mr. Justice McCardie, Thould be present to the minds of tradesmen who deal with a manied woman seeking to pledge her husband's credit.
The action was brought by Miss Gay, Ltd., Brook-street. W.. against Earl Cathcart for £215 5 the price of eight gowns supplied to Countess Cathcart, whom Earl Cathcart divorced in February last.
The defence was that the countess bad to authority to pledge the earl's 'These propositions." he continued credit, that the purchase of the gowns are subject to the proviso that the was extravagant, and that the £960 husband, though cohabiting with his per annum which he allowed her was, wife, begleets to supply ber with the sufficient for necessaries. Mr. Justice necessaries of life which might give McCandie said the case raised in her a special agency of recessity to definite fashion the right of a wife to pledge her hasband's credit. It was important to traditzen and equally important to husbands. It was also of din et interest to wives; the more so because of the modern growth in the Fights of married women and the vast change affected in their status by the Sex Disqualification (Removal)
Act 1919.
litigation.
the
Latest
pledge his credit."
His lordstip was of opinion that where an allowance was accompaniei by an express prohibition by the husband that the wife was not to pledge his credit, or where a husband made her a fixed allowance, the wife's authority to pledge her husband's credit did not exist.
Even if the allowance was not agreed, if it was £xed in smoont and dearly announced to the wife, it deprived her of any agency to pledge
The prints raised were of constant recurrence. The time had come, said his lord-hip, whez the rules of jaw should be generally know.; her husband's credit.
of! Ambiguity was
The main defence of Earl Cathcart wes that he made his wile an agreed allowance to include dress, and that therefore she had no authority to incur the debt on his behalf. Upon that point the countess gave evidence before an examin. In the witress box the earl had given bis evidence in a clear and insurable manner, It is clear that a busband is obliged and bis hardship accepted the whole to maintain his wife and may, ant of his testimony without the slightest by law be compelled to find ber besitation.
necessaries such as
During that period we had to con- same rice unattractive in appearance and unpalatable in taste, but whole- some and nutritions. The highly- polished and attractive rice which the Chinese, and perhaps Walays who live! near towns, wish to eat had almost entirely disappeared from the market. The only people who got this rice were probably a certain proportion of Chinese mining coolies and Chinese | coolies on rubber estates. The in- crease in the incidence of the disease is considered to be due to the con- sumption of this highly polished rice, and it is now stated that the medical opinion is practically unanimous on the point.
In Malaya the death rate has been approximately between 10 and 20 per cent, for the cases, and they are more fatal among the Malays than amang Chine. The Indian and other nationals who eat the parboiled rice are generally immune from the disease, bat cases have been found occurring among estate labourers. Those districts of Malaya like Johore,
Eari Cathcart continaed Mr. Justice McCardie, paid the £xed allowance to his wife with unfailing regularity, It was for the husband and not for the wife to Ex the sale and standard | Malacca and Negri Sembilan which of their social and domestic life. employ a larger proportion of Chinese That matter had been put very en rubber plantations have suffered pointedy in Bacon's Abridgment, an fairly badly. In the five years 1915- was 1920 there were 15.798 cases of bezi- old low bok wherein it
beri in the Federated Malay Stater. laid dowa.
cf which 2,341 were fatal.
PROPOSED QUESTION FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS.
meat, drink,
clothes physic, suitable to her husband's degree, but it seems also settle that the wife is not to be her
EARL'S RICHTS.
When the eat married the courtess emily in 1919 she told him she bad private means. That was untrue. The ear forrd tha she was own carver. extravagant. She had no sense of the value of money and no notion of
A marquis with $3,000 a year could the rules of economy.
Lord Cathcart Con found that according to sathority, refuse his "At wile's request that be should live at claims by creditors fowed in.
the rate of 120,000 a year, and an Srst he did not give his wife an allowance, the reason being that soon earl could if he so wished limit the after their marriage be bad guaranteed 'andard of his countess to the her an account at the bank for expenditure of a shooting lodge or $1.500. Ere long he was called upon the economy of a suburban tungalow. Froceeding. Lis lordship said be to pay that £1,500. She had spent the whole of it in 10 days, at the end was not satisfied that the eight dresses in question were necessary for the social needs of the counter. She was already in possession of enough dresses to meet her proper require ments. Her husband lived wished to live quietly and within his income. His wife desired, as her conduct showed, to live with reckless extravagance.
ef which she demanded more.
ALL HE COULD AFFORD.
In September 1019, however, the eari began to pay his wife 4 allowance of £0 a month, a sum to which she agreed. The earl made it elest that it was the utmost he could sford and expressly forbade her to pledge his credit: The allowance was to include all expenses of her dress navelling taxicab fares, and other
inotters.
was
5300
a year,
and
She chose, moreover, as her social associates those of whom the earl, for good ratons strongly disapproved. Her prodigality was for them and not for the mar she had married. Mr. Just ce McCardie said be believed the really deaned these gowns with view to her elopement to Deauville with Lord Craven.
Kounters
Clonmell
London ladies who do things. Princess Troubetskoy, formerly of the Russian Czar's imperial court, is engaged in painting hats and glassware. Lady Clonmell, wife of the Earl of Clonmell, operates a large laundry. Lady Marjorie Dalrymple manages a smede workshop. Lady Limerick has an antique salon of the Brompton road. Lady Rhondda heads the great industrial enterprises left by her father. The Duchess of Marlborough, formerly Gladys Deacon, of Boston, takes an active interest in the management of her large estate, Blenheim Park.
HOME TRADE.
MANCHESTER WEEKLY MARKET REPORT.
Meears. James Hatton & Co., Ltä, : Manchester, reperted on Wednesday, April 26 as follows:— ^.
Recently a suggestion was made locally by Dr.Malcolm Watson, M.D., the famous malarialegit, that the
The tone of the cotton markets have question of beri-beri and its eradica- tion should be referred to the Health continues steady, Prices Committee of the League of Nations. flactuated within a carrow range and In an interview he said: It might again thew barely any change from be thought that the control of beri- last week. The American markets ten would be a simple matter; it bave been rather more active ard would suffice to probibit the prepara appear to regard the general outlook tion and sale of rice of the dangercus somewhat more hopefully. Liverpool kind. If al the nations do so at once has, on the other hand, been quieter the control of beri-beri is accom and though there is still a fair plished. But for any limited area enquiry for actual cotton, spot sales Bike the Federated Malay States and shew a falling off, averaging only Straits Settlements to attempt to do 6.7000 bales-daily. The tendency it would lead to grave disturbances of resently has been for the more the rice supply-which is an interza tional trade with world-wide ramifications and would certainly ericusly restrict the supply for these countries, with a consequent sharp rise in price of this most important article of food. It might easily lead to civil disturbance
distant delivers to appreciate, chiefly owing to crop news and acreage estimates. The visible supply of American Cotton shews a reduction of 54,000 bales on the week, leaving 3,516,000 bales as against a reduction of 4,000 bales a year ago to 4,494,000
bales, The Manchester market is. "I have suggested that the subject quieter, the demand for both yarn and office control be referred to the cloth having fallen off and the Health Committee of the League of turnover has not been very goed. Nations so that an international agree There is still a fair miscellaneous Rect could be made to control the enquiry to te met with, but for the rice-producing countries simultaneous very small, and they have become quality of the rice sold, and in all most part quantities required "are ly to stop the polishing or over-milling very difficult to arrange as offers are of rice. If this were done neither very low. In some slight messze growers, millers, shippers or merchants this is no doubt owing to the would arffer, nor would the trade as uncertainty which has been caused whole be affected er diverted from its by the prospective wage reductions ascal routes. The health of the whole but the slackering of the demand te whelly reasonably tropical East weald, en the other carnat
this
The hard, be greatly improved by the attributed to control, and I hope it will be scon settlement of the wages question is
however none the less welcome,! ctablished."
especially as rates have been agreed upon for the next twelve months, thus removing any further uncertainty on this score for that length of time. The agreement made is for 16% reduction off current wages for the
Although the defendant was an earl he was not a rich man. said, Me Justice M.Carcie. He might be said in view of his rank to be distinctly s poor man. High rack often indicated a low balance at the bank.
Authority, tad his lordship, must In June and July 1921 the be regulated for the countess as well parties were living together in as for those in the humble scale of Post street, S., though not life. Her allowance was more than with bappiose. The rent suficient.
rates and: Upen the facts and documents, taxes were aboat £225, Mr. Justice McCardie said he should butler was kept and seven or eight hold, if necessary, that credit was women servants. The cost of the given to the countess and art to the household was therefore serious, but earl. It was plain that Ear! the total incurce of the earl, after, Cathcart never ratified or sanctioned deducting taxes, was not more than in any way the conduct of bis wife. £1,000 in all and the allowance to his On the contrary, he at wile was practically one-quarter of his repodiated her acts, and the more
The sudden death of Monsieur air mouths commencing May and a whole net yearly income. It was in emphaticaly became be discovered Forin cre of the ablest magistratre of further 4% for the following six there circumstances that this debt in July 1921 that the bad incurred the Paris Courts, recalls a curious months, which leaves vas incurred.
debt amounting to over £3,000 to Frop becy by Landru, who was approximately double that of pre-war
ין
arce
PROPHECY CAME TRUE.
DEATH OF EXAMINING MAGIS
TRATE IN LANDRU CASE..
the rate
In Mr. Justice McCardie's "opinion, other diremaker, to moneylenders. szeputed a few weeks ago after being day Prices are fum and un pon the facts stated, Miss Gray, and various editors. Hence the found guilty of murdering tea women changed. India has not bought vary Ltd., could not recover against the earl nightly issued a further wapingard & young boy, carl. It was arcessary, he said, to that be world cot be responsible in corsider the nature of a wife's authority in such in a case. Marriage CO DRESSES NOT NECEFƐARY.. itself gave her no authority at all. In his lordship's view the standards That had been recognised since the of the countces and her associates days of Henry VIIL
iwere falee:
any way for ber debts.
His lordship quoted authorities on
"Extravagance is not the mark of a the point, and said that in such cases gentlewoman. Profusion is not & the burden of proof was ever on the necessity of honourable rank. creditor.. But if marriage itself gave Simplicity is an essential feature of Do authority how could authority elul aod beneficent female anse? It could be given expressly citizenship. I fail to see free by the husband, but in this case stances which would justly 50 or there was an question of express 60 expensive dresses in the course authority. Authority could also be of a feat.
mach, although enquiry continues, M. Bonin was Tamining magistrate Calcutta being the most active in charge of the case against Landru, market so far at Piece Goods ste and Dany were the airmishes concemed. É mall business bas been done in yarna. China appears between the two.
The cewpaper Literte relates to be affected by the unfavourable that during the trial Landra political situation and business is protested against what he alleged was lower. There has been a moderate Fenius-calitzeus bostility, trade for Egypt but the smaller Far exclaiming, in a dramatic voices Eastern markets, the Near East, and
If he cademns me, in three months South Americs, have been deli fll be averged, for within thres months be will sko be dead.
Bonin died within the period.
The
Caminidge ***Brighter campaign, begun by the "Grinta,
undergraduate weekly, has
given by a course of desting by which Prodigality in a feminine fault. Finally; he wished to say that Mies the the husband had implied a conferred It is not a feminine merit," said his Gray Ltd, a widely known firm of resulted in the formation of the authority on the wife, No such question arose here. The countess lordship. In the hfe of Nem by dressmakerr, teck the risk that the Cambridge University Bierde Folo had not dealt with Hiss Gra Ltd, Suetonius it is said: "He never wore countess lad to authority. They did Club.
before June 28, 1921.
POINTS FOR TRADESMEN.
the same garment twice. This was not apply to the earl for information.
The infinence of the newspapers of mentioned by the historian not as He agreed that it might be a merit but as a defect. Extravagance, delicate thing to apply to a hat band is country fa infinitely greater than Dealing with * presumptive, iz -rot-to be commended in times when his wife seemed to pledge his the influence of all our statesmen. authority," his bordship quoted the whare, the stress of life is ever credit. Be it is He Leed mily - Jodging from recent events statemen pasenge from Halsbury's "Lans of growing, when the social structure is point out that business delicacy act in the way the competen being tested, and when the standard, might lead to business loss. This anggest," said Bir George Paub, at Where husband and wife are living of a simple and laborieus lleis, was a case where loss oocpired,
Jectur together the wife is presumed to have coger needed for the national His lordship gave judgment for the Kensington, “in-
earl with costs, ber husband's authority to pledge welfar
Besponsibilities
New English hat fashion. At top (right) is shown a hat of pilar box red straw, with georgette crown to match. The model at top (left) is of navy blue straw trimmed with quilted red ribbon. A dainty design from pleated orange ribbon is shown at the bottom (left), while at the right is a black shicing straw toque, with a beige coloured ribbon around the brim.
Giuglio Salvano and Jäms
Because her husband and seven children are in a sorry plight at their Stockton, Cal., home citizen't are circulating a petition asking the pardon of Mr. Losing Salvino (roset), serving a sentence of from tên years to ife imprisoliment at San Quentin for killing a man who is said to have made an stick og berimpro with the children
WEATHER REPORT.
May 29d. 11h. 20m-Pressure bar decreased alightly at Wladivostock, Weihaiwsi, Ann Haiphong. It bar increased considerably over NB Japan where pressure is now highest Depressions le over Tongkong and over the Loochoos
Hongkong infall for the 24 hours ending at 10 am today, 000 ch. Total since January at 18:47 inches, against an average of M 34 ineben
Forecast for the 24 hours anding at noon on May 30, 1892.
L
Channel. S. winds, moderate, squalls; fair to showery.
Gar Rock 1.-Booza to winds, modemte, squally: f.ir showery.
&
3-South cons of Ubins between longer and Lamocks S wind:" moderate, sqrly; fair tɔ showety.
-South comes of China becoRN 8. winds. and Hairar. Longkong medeate, naljý, fair to sh.wozy,
ROYAL OBSERVATORY, HONGKONG. DALLY WRITERK REPORT.
ŝta Hon
May 19, 1859=====
*
Поде
Barometer
Son Lovel
omparatal
Humidity.
30.04
'divostock 6, 19.53 61 Yamero
Iskolate Tokio Kochi
Yagasaki..... Lagoebims
59 67
59.67
Sarin Inland Fetbalrei
cbang
Hang
Changsha
Shanghai
Zatikë....
Swatow --
29-73
Tharp P... 799,69 Amoy 39.64
Catboks... 99.71 [sicht.... Talsani
Kashuk T
Pescadora n Canted.
Togkong - Jp Rack Kacsom Facbow -
khoi Taboo Phalien
fourste
2. At James
Oszapas Biolla Lezaspi
p
29.73 29.72
7.963 83
29.73 £6 1984 77 Es 220 79
Tacloban
Boto Saris
T&T VBODEN
4.90 44
Wind.
Direction,"
Weather.
C. W. JEFFRIE, Director, Hoogkong Observatory, May 29, 15:4 1. BARONITE. redaced to 23 degre Fahrenheit, on the level of the ses in inches, tenths and bundredths.
TIKYEPATtze, in the shade to de grees Fahrenheit
3-HUMIDITY, in percentage of extera tion the tumidity of air saturated with moisture being 160.
4. DIRECTION OF WIxo, to two pofurs. 6. FORCE OF WID, according to Beadford Seale.
8. STATE OF WEAK, b blue sky, c for detached clord'd drizzling rin,
P
gloomy, h hail, 1 Hghting, o overwat
passing abowerx q squall, x raiD, SLEW
I thunder r visibility w dew, wet.
7. RATS in inches tenths and non. dred ha
HONGKONG REGISTIR-
Previous on date at On daient.
day
28.71...
38
Barometer...
29.72
29.72
Temperaturs
86
83
Bemidity
74,
74
Direction of
BEW
BSW
4
4
Wind...
Forte
Weather
Bait...
C4 0.00 ado
os the
Eighest oven als Tanzare dhe the
Lewart open
E F. CLAXTOR, Diregor. Hongkong, Observatory, May 22
HONGKONG TIME SIGNALÉ
The Time Fallon Kowloon Signal Hille is dropped daily at 10 am and 4p.", except on Saturdays when it is dropped at 10 am and 1. p.m., and on Sundays" and Holidays when it is dropped at 10
+
The Fall is baisted half mast at the Both minute and fall out at the 57th: minate. Should the ball fail to drop at the correct time it will be lowered at 6 minuta past the hour sad the ordinary routine repeated at the following hour il peanbey
Should the Time Ball be out of cader the-abore-cutive will be carried ourz with the flag," on the Storm Signs) mast
Time Signals are also given at night by means of three white lames moured vertically on the Obervatory wireles
tinguished momentarily at the sym
8:18 to 3.00 p.m. the lampe -stronds, except at the 2nd, 28th, 201 2nd and 4th of eich smute, 2) wewe brote refer to Mangiang A Time 18 Louts Best of Grecaric
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