NATIONAL COUNCIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25030, 21 October 1944, Page 4

NATIONAL COUNCIL

THE STATE AND CHILDREN PROTECTING FAMILY LIFE (P.A.) DUNEDIN. Friday Introducing several remits on family conditions at the Dominion conierenee of the National Council of Women, Mrs W. N. Benson said that in these modern times the rearing of children was accepted as the dual responsibility of the home and the State, and women must face the fact that much eould he lost with the encroachment of the State into family life Hut the clock could not be turned hack and they must endeavour to capture the best of the past era and incorporate it in the new. It was the duty of the National Council of Women to assist in deciding whether the State was going to take more responsibility from the home or bring more assistance to the home.

The following remits were carried:— "That the council urges that a universal family allowance be instituted immediately as a step toward removing some grave and unjust hardships under which parents of children of larger families now suffer, the amount to bo payable to the mother." "That provision under the social security scheme he made available on application for the support of illegitimate children by benefit of not less than 10s 6d a week, especially in the following circumstances: (a) In cases where affiliation and maintenance orders have been granted by Court and payment cannot be secured; (b) cases where, by reason of absence or death, maintenance cannot be secured from the father; (c) cases where paternity cannot be established or an order is refused, leaving the child unprovided for; (d) cases where a woman has lived as wife and has had children but lias been deserted." "That the Minister of Defence be urged to authorise payment of not less than 14s a week for the support of illegitimate children of soldiers, this sum to be made up by an allotment from the soldier and allowances from the Government."