Whip slams new 'bed clause’

Press, 19 August 1978, Page 2

Whip slams new 'bed clause’

PA Wellington A bill was criticised in Parliament yesterday for containing what the Senior Opposition Whip Mr C. R. Marshall describee as a “going-to-bed clause.” During the introduction of the Social Security Amendment Bill (No. 2) Mr Marshall concentrated his attack on clause 16, which defines a de facto marriage. The clause follows the successful appeal by a solo mother, Mrs Beth Furmage, who had her domestic purposes benefit cut by the Social Welfare Department because it alleged she was living in a de facto relationship. The clause provides that the Social Welfare Commission can “regard as husband and wife any man and woman who. i.ot being married, have entered into a relationship ir the nature of marriage.” ‘ls this a going-to-bed clause?” Mr Marshall asked. “If so are we going to require the Social Welfare Department to auk p ople how often they have gone to bed with someone?” Mr Mat hall said the Furmage appeal 1 d established that where there was no mutual support base there was no de facto relationship' The clause in the bill was I no help in defining a de facto relationship at all, he said. It would lead to welfare officers "snooping to find out whether there are men’s shoes under the bed,” he said. “This is a sex clause. How is it going to be measured and who is going to do the measurmg? How m'jiy sex contacts are required for - de facto ielationship?” Mr R. W. Prebble (Lab. Auckland Central) said the Government had set up a “secret committee on the family” under the chairmanship of the Minister of Social

Welfare (Mr Walker), who introduced the bill. “Has this been its total contribution?” Ar Prebble asked. “Has it solely concerned itself with the sex relations of solo parents?” The Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr AdamsSchneider) said it had always been the job of the department to investigate claims for the domestic purposes benefit. “I resent the language of the member when he suggests they are snooping.” Dr A. M. Finlay, (Lab. Henderson) said the Minister was saying to his department: “You've got to see who’s behind the door. You’ve got to see whose shoes are under the bed.” But Mr Walker denied it was his department's policy to "snoop.” “We’re not involved in bedroom politics,” he said. Mr Walker said he could give an assurance that newspapers had told “only half

the story” about Mrs Furmage’s case. His department was not going to give an advantage of $BO or $9O a week to people living in a de facto relationship over those who were married. A move by the Opposition to have the bill referred to Parliament's Social Services Committee was defeated by 39 votes to 25 in a division. It was then given a first reading.