§ 30. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will place before the forthcoming Imperial Conference the question of the legal disabilities of married women whose husbands have deserted them and acquired domicile in an overseas part of the Empire?
§ Mr. AMERYI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the question of maintenance of married women in the circumstances mentioned. In that case I would call attention to the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act, 1920. Reciprocal legislation has now been passed throughout Australia, in New Zealand and in the Union of South Africa and in practically all the Colonies not possessing responsible Government and all the Protectorates. In the circumstances it would appear to be hardly necessary to bring the general question before the Imperial Conference.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSWill the Imperial Conference consider the case of women who desire to take divorce proceedings against their husbands who have deserted them and gone to an Overseas Dominion, but who at present are debarred from taking proceedings in the Courts at home, owing to the fact that their husbands are deemed to be domiciled overseas?
§ Mr. J. JONESWe in West Ham have suffered from this —[Horn. MEMBERS: "Order!"] My question is whether the Minister will be prepared to bring before the Conference the question of men who 869 have deserted their wives and families being proceeded against in the Courts of the Dominion to which they have gone?
§ Mr. AMERYYes, Sir. That question was discussed fully in 1923, and legislation to meet that case has been passed in most parts of the Empire, but, in so far as difficulties still arise, the question can be brought before the Conference.
§ Mr. AMERYOwing to certain differences between the Provinces and the Dominion Government, the Provincial Governments have so far not seen their way to pass the necessary legislation.