FAMILY ALLOWANCES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 51, 28 August 1930, Page 12

FAMILY ALLOWANCES

■DESEETED WIVES

AMENDMENT PROPOSED

Although it' wa3 ruled out as involving an appropriation, the Family Allowance Amendment Bill of Mr. W. B. Barnard (Labour, Na,pier) was permitted by tho indulgence of members of the House of Representatives yesterday to go to its second reading. )

Mr. Bernard said that under the Act application for the family allowance could be made only by a father, but the actual payment must be made to the wife, except in exceptional circumstances. The Bill proposed to make an alteration giving the mother the right to apply. The real object of the Bill was to afford relief which was long ovordue to unfortunate women whoso husbands had deserted them and left them to defend themselves and their little children.' He expressed the hopo that the Government would do something to meet the need of those deserted wives, for; it-was a crying shame that the law did not- already make proper provision for their cases. He'submitted-that thia session should not bo-permitted to conclude without such a shocking anomaly being rectified. There were only a few; score of women at present affected. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. G.Cobbe) said that to put the BUI into operation would cost between £4500 and £5000. He thought it would be a mistake to make piecemeal amendments to the law affecting pensions. Amendments would be made later, and Mr. Barnard's'proposition would then be considered. While he was in England the Prime Minister would endeavour to male© some arrangomont in reforeneo to reciprocity, and it was possible that later on a Government Bill would be introduced. They had to bo careful that fathers did not evado their responsibilities. Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Independent, Grey Lynn) appealed to the' Government to, remedy an obvious injustice. It was agreod by. the Leader of the Opposition (the Right Hon. J. G. Ooates) that there was' room for an amendmont of tho Act. It was difficult to foresee when the Act was passed 'what special cases might arise, and it was intended that tha Act should be improved. He hoped that an adjustment would be made at' tho earliest convenient date. . Tho Bill was read a second time, but will not bo allowed to 'proceed further.