DEFAULTING HUSBANDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 36

DEFAULTING HUSBANDS.

FARM COLONIES SUGGESTED. CHRISTCHURCH, February 1. “Some of the Christchurch wives who are deserted by their husbands are very fine women, and it is a shame that the defaulters are not brought to book more frequently,” said Mrs A. E. Herbert, J.P., this morning, in an interview. “The desertion of wives by husbands is apparently becoming more common,” continued Mrs Herbert. “It is not fair to the ratepayers that these men should make their wives a charge on the general funds. Defaulters should be given a long term of imprisonment and be made to work, payment for such being given to their wives. America, Germany, and Belgium have farm colonies where such men are set to work for two years, and 70 per cent, of the men have thereafter made good. Such a system would be worth a trial in New Zealand.” Mrs Herbert said that the wives who sought charitable aid did not represent nearly the number deserted, as many did not seek assistance. Men were able to escape their obligations too easily, and there should be an officer appointed specially to round up defaulters. “I have no reason to regard the number of defaulters as being on the increase,” said the secretary of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Mr Wharton). Sixty-five wives who had been deserted applied for help last year.”