Family wage needs fresh look—report

Press, 2 September 1977, Page 3

Family wage needs fresh look—report

PA Wellington The financial needs of families should be examined afresh, says the chairman of the Social Development Council (Dr J. L. Robson). His comment is contained in a discussion report •— “Family Finances: Can the Community Do Better?” released by the council yesterday. The Social Development Council is a body established by the Government to advise it on social development. It is trying to encourage public discussion on ways in which Government policies can promote better family life. Dr Robson said the council believed it was essential to ensure that families had income sufficient for their needs.

Equal pay and the increasing trend for mothers to take up employment meant that the wage structure was becoming less and less related to family commitments, he said.

Wages were based on individual effort and did not recognise differences in sizes of families and other variables.

“It is obvious that it would be well-nigh impossible to devise a wage structure which would adequately recognise family needs. We must therefore rely on the community, using the income-distribution measures available through the State to ensure that families are not placed at a financial disadvantage when compared with the rest of the community,” Dr Robson said. The council’s report outlines the financial situation of families, based on latest research evidence, and the factors involved in the relationship between families and work. It suggests possible alternatives for channelling assistance to families. Dr Robson said the council’s main concern was that the community must recog-

nise the need to ensure that child-rearing was not a time of relative poverty. “The council regards it as very important that people respond to the report,” he said. “We cannot expect Governments to take steps of the order required to correct his situation without the support of an informed public.” The Minister of Social Welfare (Mr Walker) has welcomed the council’s paper.

“It provides the focus for the community to turn its mind to the issues of family living in today’s economic and social climate,” Mr Walker said.

This year’s Budget provided for an increase in the young-family rebate to S 9 a week for incomes up to $l5O a week, and for assistance for single-income families with a child under 10 by the introduction of a new' rebate of $2OB a year. “A society which provides equal pay for both parents who work will inevitably produce a relative disparity in the incomes of those families which are supported by the earnings of one parent.”

This trend was continuing, and as the proportion of married working women expanded, the social consequences of this would need careful monitoring, said Mr Walker. ‘‘However, some I differences in incomes are offset to a degree by the existing family benefit and taxation concessions, and also by other assistance to families as detailed in the paper.”

“I hope that the Social Development Council will, in its final report, pax' some attention to the problems of resource redistribution and, in particular, to the social effects which may follow from the introduction of any new schemes,” Mr Walker said.