§ 75. Mr. GRETTONasked if cases of abuse have occurred in the use of money paid as maternity benefit under the National Insurance Act; and if there is any provision in the Act that the money shall be used for the case of maternity and not squandered for extraneous purposes while the woman is in want or neglected?
§ Mr. MASTERMANVery few cases of the kind referred to in the first part of the question have been brought to the notice of the Commissioners. Under Section 19 of the Act it is the duty of a husband who receives maternity benefit to make adequate provision, to the best of his power, for the maintenance and care of his wife during her confinement, and for a period of four weeks after her delivery, and if he neglects or refuses to do so he is liable, upon summary conviction, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any term not exceeding one month.