In Conner v. Conner (97 AD2d 88 [2nd Dept. 1983]), the Appellate Division in the Second Department stated: "According to the Assembly memorandum in support of the new law : The basic premise for the marital property and alimony (now maintenance) reforms of this legislation ( 236) is that modern marriage should be viewed as a partnership of co-equals. Upon the dissolution of a marriage, there should be an equitable distribution of all family assets accumulated during the marriage and maintenance should rest on the economic basis of reasonable needs and the ability to pay. From this point of view, the contributions of each partner to the marriage should ordinarily be regarded as equal and there should be an equal division of family assets, unless such a division would be inequitable under the circumstances of the particular case.'" (Conner, supra at 96).