EMPIRE CONFERENCE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10230, 12 June 1911, Page 5

EMPIRE CONFERENCE

DEALING WITH WIFE-DESERTERS.

A RESOLUTION CARRIED

(Received Last Night, 5.S o'clock.)

LONDON, June 10. At the Imperial Conference, Sir Joseph Ward formally moved—"That in order to relieve the deserted wives and children, and the poor-relief burdens of Great Britain and her dependencies, reciprocal provision should be made in respect to destitute arid deserted persons." | The Hon. Dr. Findlay, AttorneyGeneral of New Zealand, said that reciprocity was needed in order to enforce the decisions of one part of the Empire in another part. Wife-deser-ters from England could not at present be compelled to contribute in New Zealand, except by an expensive process under the Fugitive Offenders' Act. Similar conditions existed jetween the Dominions. He hoped shortly to legislate in the direction of enforcing an Australian maintenance order in New Zealand. The Hon. A. Fisher, Prime Minister of the, Common wealth, said it would be beneficial if they had a Federal law upon the subject. He suggested tho omission of reference to the poor-re-lief burdens of Britain, as it had nothing to do with them. Sir Joseph Ward agreed to the elimination of these words. The Right Hon. John Burns, President of the Board of Trade, said il Ft, although they might agree on the principle, it was somehow difficult to find a practical application. His Department considerd that the enforcement of maintenance orders would he out of proportion to the benefit derived. If the Dominions were to .refer the question to their law officers, he would discuss with the British lawofficers the feasibility of making wifedesertion a deportable offence.

The Hon. Dr. Findlay thought the matter a simple one. When an ordar was issued in New Zealand, it should be possible for a man to be called upiu in London to show cause. The Right Hon. L. Harcourt suggested that the resolution should read as follows: — "In order to secure justice and protection for deserted wives and children, a reciprocal legal provision be adopted." Dr. Findlay acquiesced, and the motion, in its amended form, was carried. The Conference then rejourned till Monday. '