MAINTENANCE ORDERS.

White Ribbon, Volume 47, Issue 4, 18 May 1941, Page 3

MAINTENANCE ORDERS.

The following resoh’fion was passed unanimously:—“This meeting of the Linwood branch of the W.C.T.U. views with concern the position of women who have obtained maintenance orders, hut who are unable to receive restitution on account of delinquency on the part of the husband, and would urge amendment of the law so as to compel delinquent husbands to work on remunerative employment and wages to the amount of the maintenance orders to be paid to the wife." We are very glad to see Unions taking up this matter. It is a very sad fact that about one marriage in every seven in New Zealand is severed by judicial sanction. In an address delivered to the Wellington Society for the Protection of Women and Children, Mr. B. L. Dallard, Under Secretary for Justice, said: “A further disquieting feature of last year’s statistics is the increase in the number of proceedings for breaches of maintenance orders. This is rather remarkable when one considers the improved employment facilities and the increased wages, but in this regard the increase »n drinking seems to be a contributing factor.” Sir Phillip Game, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, London, said: “There is always some sort of relation between disposable cash and intoxication.”

Many social workers report that in a large number of cases the wives and children do not get the benefit of the increased pay.