GOVT DETERMINED TO POSTPONE PAYMENT OF ALL CHILDREN'S ALLOWANCE

ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - The Government is persistent in postponing the start of payment of children's' allowances to the unemployed, craftsmen and farmers due to the lack of funds and non- existent technical conditions. "The Government remains behind its stance, because it wants to be certain the job would be seriously and well prepared," Deputy Labour and Welfare Minister Bozo Zaja said Tuesday, explaining the Government's stance before several committees of the House of Representatives. The Parliament last year adopted a Law on Children's Allowance, according to which the allowance would not only be allocated to the children of employed parents, but also to the children of the unemployed, craftsmen and farmers, and it was to take effect this March. In taking over the state which is in a dire economic straits, the ruling coalition has resorted to the unpopular measure of requesting a postponement applying the law until January 1, 2001. The majority of MPs at the Lower House recently accepted the postponement, but the Upper House vetoed the decision, so the entire procedure must be repeated. Committees on Tuesday confirmed the Lower House's decision and refused the House of Counties' veto where the majority MPs are from the Croatian Democratic Union party. (hina) lml mm