The National Council of Women in Conference assembled, being gravely concerned at the plight of the many deserted wives who are unable to obtain their rightful maintenance from their husbands, urges Her Majesty’s Government to give serious consideration to the following proposals:

1. That the Maintenance Orders Act, 1958, Section 9(3), whereby an attachment of earnings order must be discharged when the husband changes his employment, be amended in such a way that the original attachment of earnings order is complied with by the new employer.

2. That where a husband is at least four weeks in arrears with payments (or two months where payment is made monthly), or an attachment of earnings order has been discharged through the change of employment, the appropriate Ministry be made responsible for payments to the wife and be empowered to recover the necessary sums from the husband.