The (p, n) cross sections for the 0(+) --> 1(+) excitation are studied experimentally at E-p = 35 MeV in eight nuclei with T-z = (N - Z)/2 = 1, C-14, O-18, Ne-22, Mg-26, Si-30, S-34, Ar-38 and Ca-42. It is found that the peak (p, n) cross sections around theta approximate to 30degrees are proportional to the corresponding beta(+)-decay rates of the T-z = -1 partners of the T = 1 multiplets. We propose a prescription to extract GT matrix elements in light nuclei from (p, n) cross sections using such proportionality. The method is applied to determine an unknown B(GT) matrix element in Al-26, which is energetically inaccessible by beta(+)-decay experiments. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.