WIFE WHO DREW THE DOLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17567, 18 June 1925, Page 13

WIFE WHO DREW THE DOLE.

“ SOUNDS LIKE JOKE,” SAYS MAGISTRATE. ENTITLED TO IT? LONDON, April 23. If a married woman has been previously employed she can draw the I dole even though her husband may be earning high wages. This statement in Thames Police ! Court led the Magistrate (Mr Cairns) i tu exclaim: "Then I think it is a disj grace frem beginning to end. A single | woman at work takes it into her heat, to get married. She has a husband and can draw unemployment pay. It is The Clerk: It is the endowment of marriage. Charles Garner, of Iloy Street. Canning Town, had been charged with obtaining the dole by false pretences. UNKNOWN TO HUSBAND. lie denied knowing that his wife was also obtaining benefit, and Mrs Garner said she drew the dole without the knowledge of her husband. She thought she was entitled to it, as she had paid for insurance stamps. “It is difficult to believe the thing* we have heard this morning.”’ remarked the Magistrate. “It sounds like an economic joke. “ Here is a young woman, two years after marriage, suddenly thinks she can pet something for nothing, and it seems she is entitled to do so. “ Apparently young women can get married and can go on to the unemployment l>u rea u. ’ * Garner was sentenced to twenty-one days’ hard labour. MANY WIVES ON DOLE ? •‘lf a wife choose to work in 3 fac- ! lory she can draw the. dole when tern- i persrily unemployed,” caid an official ’ of the Ministry of Labour. ’' 3>oroestO j “ The fact that a. woman had bs-ep ! married two year? would not preclude j her from drawing unemployment pay i il she had done insurable work mean- i t me. but if she had not engaged in i i.hat work since her marriage she could j not have qualified for" benefit. j “If the. records were searched it ! would doubtless be found that many j married women have received the dole j i while their husbands were receiving : wages.” j