THE DIVORCE LAW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8410, 12 November 1912, Page 5

THE DIVORCE LAW.

SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) (Received November 12, 2.20 p.m.) LONDON, November 12. The Divorce Commission recommend;? a simplified procedure of the local hearing of cases where the joint income of a married couple does not exceed £300 a year; also for proceedings "in forma pauperis " ; the limitation of the powers of .summary Courts to grant separations; immediately necessitous application for permanent separation to be made to the High Court ; a simple process of placing the two sexes on an equality as regards grounds' of divorce, which should be obtainable for adultery, desertion for three years, cruelty, incurable insanity after five years' confinement, habitual drunkenness, or after three years' imprisonment under a commuted death sentence. The grounds for nullity of marriage are to'be incipient insanity, epilepsy, certain communicable diseases, pregnancy by another (all these if present and concealed at the time of marriage). Deltb. is to be presumable after seven years' total disappearance or if ,the Court is satisfied there are reasonable grounds if or so supposing it. All matrimonial cases will be heard before a Judge alone. The report also; recommends the; prohibition of the publication of reports till the cases are finished; The Judge is to be empowered to order the exclusion of. any portion of a case from publication.