Child Allowance

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 27, 26 October 1945, Page 6

Child Allowance

Sir, —I was rather surprised, aud not at all pleased, to see in yesterday’s "Dominion ’ an of a suggestion made to the Prime Minister by the Dominion Settlement and Population Association, advocating the curtailment of the family allowance for the first child.. This weekly 10/-, if allowed to remain, will remove a sizeable amount of financial worry from the young couple launching out into parenthood for the first time. In my opinion this allowance should begin, in the case of a first child, six months before the baby arrives. When a first child is expected, the outlay for such lasting items as the pram, bassinette, bath, etc., is the biggest worry. These things, however, if taken care of, <will serve any subsequent children, and eliminate that extra cost oyer and above the layette. The same thing applies all through childhood. Expensive articles which most parents consider necessary for their child s happiness cot, tricycle, rocking-horse, and other expensive toys, not, perhaps,, absolutely essential, but very desirable, if well looked after, serve their purpose for brothers and sisters coming on. Clothes, too, can. be handed down to younger children -or playing in at least, but fox the first child all ’ these things have to be purchased new, as do books, etc., when the first child starts school. The promise of 10/- weekly for all children has certainly encouraged many married people to contemplate raising a family, but I venture to predict that should the allowance cease to apply to the first child, the prospect of procuring necessities unhelped, in these days or high prices, will prove too much for many prospective parents aud they may decide to remain childless altogether. —I am, etc., A BARENT. Carterton, October 23.