DIVORCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 79, 3 April 1928, Page 11

DIVORCE.

A DECLINE LAST YEAR. CAUSES OF TROUBLE ANALYSED. ELABORATE STATISTICS. (By Telegraph.— Special to "Star."') WELLINGTON, this day

Elaborate statistical analyses of the incidence and cause of divorce in New Zealand are made Liy the Government Statistician, who reports that the number of petitions in 1927 totalled 722, a drop of 1G on the year. The immediate post-war period was more prolific in divorces, and the recent ligures hav? been exceeded on six occasions. The nuniber of decrees nisi last year, 029, has, however, been exceeded on only two occasions, and the decrees absolute, 340, ar? 74 fewer than the record tot:il of 192(5.

As for the causes of divorce, it is stated that separation for three y-.rs or more ranked as the principal reason, closely followed by desertion and adultery. • Husbands' petitions numberet 342, and wives' 380, and the figures show that the average duration of the marriages concerned is just over 13 years. The relative ages of the parties counts for a good deal, according to the statistics, for an analysis with this in view discloses a very large proportion of cases where the wife was very young at marriage. *Wliile there were 89 divorces where t'>e wife was older than the husband, there were 140 where the husband was live to nine years older than his wife. Comparison of the marriage tables for 192(1 with the divorce proceedings of last year suggests, says the statistician, "that the mere age of the bride is a much more important factor than the disparities between the ages rf husband and wife." The fallowing figures illustrate this interesting point: — Marriases. 192(5. Divorces. 1027. percent. percent. Cases where wIT« under 23 .... .19 GO Husband younger than wife ... 18 17 Hue-band older than wife 38 39 Only four petitions were filed for judicial separation, and one granted. Petitions for restitution of conjugal rights numbered 91, compared with 8(5 in the previous year. Decrees were granted in 7'J cases.