DEFAULTING HUSBANDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 117, 11 February 1919, Page 6

DEFAULTING HUSBANDS

Sir— Having had an opportunity of seeing a great deal of the seamy; Bide of life in connection' with soldiers and their dependants, I have been struck with tlio utter inadequacy ot the law dealing with husbands, who toe deserted their wives or against whom there are orders of Court in force for tho 'support of their wives or children. Surely something might be done to enforce these ordors other than imprisonment, which certainly does not help tho defaulting husband's starving dependants. Could not the Slate take control of tho man, mako him work and hand over his earnings for the support of his wifo and children, after deducting tho cost of his keep? • , So many glaring cases have come to my notice where tho man is living lus own life—often with another woman— and his lawful wife and children are on the verge of starvation, .existing on the paltry pittance from some charitable aid board, that I cannot refrain from making an effort to draw public attention to a scandalous miscarriage of justice that needs remedying without delay.-I am. etc.. D. M. YEATS. Wellington, February 7, 1919.