DESTITUTE PERSONS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 2, 2 July 1926, Page 8

DESTITUTE PERSONS

ALTERATIONS TO LAW

DESERTED WIVES AND BETRAYED GIRLS. '

•An amendment of the Destitute Persona Act was introduced into the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Replying to Mr. P. Fraser (Welling-, ton Ceneral), the Minister in charge of the Bill (the Hon. F. J. Kolleston) said the main feature of the measure wasNa provision making moro effective the existing law relating to the collection oE maintenance levies. This was done by extending the powers of maintenance officers. The Bill extended this principle to all towns in the Dominion, and he thought it would be found that it would have some effect in preventing maintenance moneys from falling into arrears as in the past. Another provision dealt with the question of the burden of proof in regard to maintenance moneys, and another provision dealt with the amount of maintenanr ■ that might be ordered by a Magistrate. Mr. Fraser asked whether the Bill made any provision for dealing with wives who had been deserted by husbands who had fled to Australia. AVould wives be able to take proceedings in Australia?. The Hon. Mr. Rolleston replied that there was no provision stating that the Government should bring back deserting husbands. It was considered that the existing provisions in regard to the enforcement of maintenance orders in Australia was as effective as it could be made. There was a reciprocal arrangement to this effect. Sir John Luke? (Welling ,n North) wanted to know whether a man employed in Samoa could be compelled to make payment of alimony. Ho knew of a case where the arrears amounted to £600. Could the woman be protected?

The Minister said that no provision could be made in the Bill to meet a case of that kind because no order had been made under the Destitute Persons Act; it had been made under the Divorce Act. He saw no reason, howeve-, why the order should not be enforced in Samoa.

Mr. W. B. Parry (Auckland Central) stated that girls had been betrayed by American sailors. Could steps be taken to secure an order against these sailors in the United States 1 ""We are asked by the Press to take these people into our. homes, and thjs " what we get for it," stated Mr. Parry.

The Minister stated that no provision could be put into the Bill which would be enforceable in America without some reciprocal arrangement. However, he would look into the matter to see if anything could be done.

The Bill increases from 21s to 42s the amount for which a maintenance order may be made against a nea relative of a destitute person, . nd the limitation of £3 for which a maintenance order may be made against a husband or wife is removed.

The liability of parents in respect of the cost of maintenance of children in public or charitable institutions is extended to; children up to the ago of twenty-one years.

The Bill provides that where a Court is of opinion that the interests of public morality demand it, the Court may be cleared. Power 13 also given for tho suppression of publication of reports of maintenance proceed1 ;s.