The Short Title of this Act is “The Destitute Persons Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1884.”

The words “on her behalf,” in section sixteen of “The Destitute Persons Act, 1877” (hereinafter called “the said Act”), shall be and are hereby repealed.

Section seventeen of the said Act shall henceforth be read as if the words “whether the defendant be present or not any Resident Magistrate present shall” were omitted therefrom, and the following shall be read as substituted in lieu thereof, namely: “Whether the defendant be present or not, or has or has not been served with a summons, any Resident Magistrate may.”

When any husband unlawfully deserts his wife or leaves her without, or fails to provide her with, adequate means of support, or when any father or mother deserts his or her children under the age of fourteen years, or leaves them without, or fails to provide them with, adequate means of support, and goes to reside beyond the Colony of New Zealand, either temporarily or permanently, such husband, father, or mother shall be deemed to be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment with hard labour for a term of twelve months.

In any of the cases specified in the last-preceding section, if complaint be made on oath to a Resident Magistrate by any respectable person, such Resident Magistrate may, if satisfied that an offence has been committed within the meaning of the said section, but not otherwise, issue his warrant for the apprehension of the person against whom such complaint has been made.

Notwithstanding anything in the said Act contained no warrant or apprehension shall be issued except by a Resident Magistrate.