MATERNITY BENEFITS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 187, 7 August 1913, Page 5

MATERNITY BENEFITS.

HOW THEY ABU SQUANDERED. ("Sydney Sun" Special Bet-vice.) LONDON, August 0. At the Infant Mortality Congress, Dr. Barbara Sutherland, Glasgow, sjwakiiig of tliu nbuso of tbu maternity benefit?! under tbo National Innuranco schema, said In numerous cases Hie husband spent the entire thirty shillings in drink. In anticipation of tlio benefit men stopped work and rcfuccd to work when offered it. In soma instances they used tbo money for the payment of bolting transactions and the purcliaso of gramophones. Frequently the money was paid to the wife and was aftcrwardß deducted from her household expenses. The Countess of Aberdeen said that it was necessary to teach Irish children in the hospitals to like milk. They hardly knew the taste of it, tbo teapot stewing before the licarth hod too long provided drink for children. AMENDING THE LAW. (Received 2.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 8. j Tito llouso of Commons discussed tonight tho Grand Committee's amendments to the National Insurance Act Amendment Bill. Tho Labour party strongly objected to panic legislation on" the maternity benefit because- of a few bad husbands. An animated debate followed, several Liberals and Conservatives claiming that the benefit ought to bo definitely mnde the wife's property. An amendment was carried liy 180 to 177, rllowing a husband to receive tho monoy if the wife authorised him to do to.