ALLOWANCES AND—THE HUSBAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1084, 24 March 1911, Page 9

ALLOWANCES AND—THE HUSBAND.

MERELY HOUSEKEEPER? The following letter has been received in answer to one that appeared from a correspondent earlier in the week upon the question of the wife's allowance. It is as follows:— Dear Imogen,— I was immensely interested in the letter which appeared in your column the other morning from "One of the Disappointed Ones" upon the subject of tne husband's money, and I quite agree with her that there would be more happy homes and contented- wives. If husbands would, from the beginning, make some definite arrangement m regard to the financial part of their lives together. There are far too many wives who have to apply to their husbands for every shilling they spend, and yet their husbands can well afford to pay them a monthly allowance that would save them from such humiliation. Sometimes it is from sheer thoughtlessness an inability to understand how a woman feels about such matters—particularly if it happened to be a woman who, previous to her marriage, earned her own income and hod no need to apply, to anyone for the money she wished to spend—and sometimes it is because he loves to feel himself entirely the head of the household. Ho pays the bills, and thinks that there is no more to bo said or thought about the matter. In arguing the matter with a man the other day, who, by the way, happened to be unmarried, the opinion was expressed by him that such a question was turning marriage into a purely commercial undertaking, tho wife becoming merely a paid housekeeper, an'd that much of thc : inter'-: dependence between husband and. wifo would be done away with. Marriage was a partnership, and the husband was tho managing partner. Tho idea did not appear to strike him that there are very few partnerships existing (outside matrimony) where tjie second partner would bo content to go. his way without ~a settled share,o£ the.iiuoney The woman :'p.ufs into marriage her powers of mind and. body, her health, her strength, and all she has, and in return she is surely entitled to a little independence financially—at any rate,' as much as can be settled upon in their circumstances. Women arc not unreasonable, and few would want more than- can reasonably be afforded. In my humble opinion, no marriago ought to take place until a financial agreement has teen arrived at,- either by the girl's parents' or' guardians, or, if it came to that, a quiet talk between , the young man and. the .girl, about their future arrangements.;-But .love is'so : .blind arid so. unthinking..' l It is,always'well- ; speaking from-. ray: own experience—to start with a clear-understanding as to : the way in which they are going to live their lives together,, and then the • chances ofrecriminations. ' and misunderstandings wquld be considerably lessened. I know of more than-one woman, very sensitive and very young, who have shed many tears and felt such unhappiness that they have been forced to ask their husband's for money soon after marriage.' The French people are very wise in these matters. Hoping I have not trespassed too much, upon your valuablo snace. and thanking you in anticipation.—l am, etc., "AN.OLD SOLDIER." Wellington, March 22. Some weeks .ago the Mayor (Mr. T. M. n ilford)'appealed to local swimming enthusiasts for a donation towards the furnishing funds of the Y.W.C.A. Hostel, with the result that it was agreed to hold a monster combined swimming .gathering, which will take place - to-morrow at the Te Aro baths. Mr. Cyril Brice, Aew Zealand's 100 yds. champion, will endeavour to break the record for that distance, and this item, in addition to various races, etc., for both sexes, will make up a very interesting programme. An energetic committee of ladies from the Y.W.C.A. is working in conjunction with the swimmers, and everything is being done to ensure success. •