VITAL REMITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 95, 19 October 1944, Page 10

VITAL REMITS

WELFARE OF CHILDREN

The following remits are to be discussed at the forthcoming conference in Christchurch of the New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children:—

Social Security.—That provision under social security be made available on application for the support of illegitimate children by a benefit of not less than 10s 6d a week, especially in the following circumstances:—ln cases where affiliation and maintenance orders have been granted by the Court but payment cannot be secured; in cases where by reason of his absence or death maintenance. cannot be obtained from the father; in cases where paternity cannot he established or an application for an order is refused leaving the child unprovided for- in cases where a woman has lived as the wife of a man and had children by him but has been deserted by him. (It should be noted here that as long as the couple live together the woman may. receive the family benefit, but when the man deserts her she will h l a- vl 1 it x stopPed> bein § no longer eligible.) s

Child Welfare.—That the law be so amended that parents found guilty of neglect and/or any contributory cause which necessitates the intervention of the Child Welfare Department, may themselves be charged, and that the

Child Welfare Act be so amended to provide suitable punishment for these offences.

Sexual Assaults.—That the law be so amended that a wife be permitted to give evidence against her husband if necessary in cases of criminal assault by the father against his child; that the methods of trial in such cases be altered so that children of tender years giving evidence be not subjected to the ordeal of the open Court, and that the Judges be asked to consider means whereby this could be brought about in such a way as to safeguard the interests of justice. , Military Allotments.—That the present discrimination by the Minister in individual cases of separated wives be discontinued; that a standard amount be deducted from all soldiers' pay for dependent wives and children when wives are caring for such children; that the Government grants be uniform in respect of all children irrespective of the marital difficulties of the parents; that illegitimate children be granted the same allowance as other children.

will match the hacks in the October Handicap. They are all useful, but Anchorage may be the best of them