‘Disturbed’ at Minister’s views

Press, 5 August 1977, Page 7

‘Disturbed’ at Minister’s views

The National Organisation for Women is “somewhat disturbed by the tenor” of the speech by the Minister of Justice, (Mr Thomson) to the Wellington Women’s Electoral Lobby on the legislative proposals at present under study to replace the Domestic and Matrimonial Proceedings Act.

“While there are a number of things we agree with in principle we are concerned at the practicalities of some of the suggestions,” said the (president of the Christchurch branch, Mrs Ann Elstob. I “The irreconcilable breakdown of marriage should certain Iv be the sole ground for divorce. But when it comes to maintenance and custody, flexibility should be the keynote, with Family Courts set up where the parties can settle their problems without bitterness.”

To expect a woman to receive only transitory maintenance could cause real hard-

ship, unless there were more facilities for retraining and child care. Was the Government proposing to support a woman who was unable to fend for herself, for whatever reason? N.O.W. was particularly concerned for those in their forties or fifties who had never had job training and would find it almost impossible in the present economic climate, to support themselves.

Mr Thomson’s comments on access to children seemed to be singularly inappropriate when 1978 is designated “Year of the Child.” Children should have much more say in the drawing up of access rights. Often children were torn between warring parents and could be used as pawns. Refusal to co-operate about access to children might just be a desire to protect the children from the undermining influence of the other parent, said Mrs Elstob.