DESERTED WIVES

Southland Times, Issue 22999, 19 September 1936, Page 3

DESERTED WIVES

PROBLEM IN WALES.

COST OF £lOO,OOO A YEAR.

London, August 26. Deserted wives and their children are costing the Welsh public assistance authorities, it is estimated, £lOO,OOO a year. This is the outstanding fact resulting from an inquiry into domestic conditions in the Principality. Wales more than any other part of the kingdom seems to be a land of broken romances. In the industrial areas Police Court records and statistics of local authorities reveal thousands of homes wrecked by deserting fathers.

There are at present over 5000 separated couples in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire alone, and it is significant that the Police Courts in what are called the distressed areas have to deal with most of the desertion and maintenance applications of wives. Some surprising facts are brought to light at these matrimonial hearings.

Frequently, when public assistance authorities prosecute erring husbands for failing to maintain wives and children they have deserted, it is shown that husbands owe sums ranging from £lOO to £3OO. Sometimes a husband comes before the Courts who owes as much as £5OO for his family maintenance.