ENGLISH LAW OF DIVORCE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13609, 18 December 1909, Page 13

ENGLISH LAW OF DIVORCE.

B OYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED.

•be I? of tho J ,r, ' Cf nt KnK l * l ' law .{divorce and its administration « to Linrestigatcl by r. Royal Companion, Jwhich U*u Coroll, who has recently -_#___ from the presidency «i the Oi-orce Court, L» to bo chairman. The JjTUhor* are :-rh, Arfi,b_,h«v; ;!{Tork, Lird I\r:,y Ladv*ranees Rtftwr, Mr Tloa:.w Burt, M.P., Lord fgrie'. **r W. X An.n. XI.P., S,r Dibdin, K.C., hir George 'ijfte, M.P., Mrs 11. J. Tenant, ./_§_» Tindal .\tk.l-0n (County Conrt), Mr Jvl-ar Uri-rioy fStipsiidiary "lliiistrate of Muncht-Mcr), Mr Hufus ■JS. KC -> Ml> - and - M . r J - A - ftjender (editor of th* "Wo.-.tininstcr gazette.") Tha C n;ir.;V>:on is to oilman into tho present Matt- cf the law -fflKliTOr&e _nd matrimonial oaus.t's anu j-pljaiiiona. for reparation ordt-rs, and v to report whether any real amendments should be made. It is evident .gat the scop? cf tho Commission "iuejades the fundamental principles of _jorce laws, and tluit an ontiro reof tho laws may bo propo_d. The question of granting a Sroroe where either man ex wife is jjjwlessly insane, for example, will anna up. Last year's figures show (Jut over 57,000 persons certified M inatnc were married. The Comrnls_pn »8 instructed especially to take jtto cc-hsid -ration the ■ position of the Morer classes in relation to divorce, it present all divorco cares must ho tned in London, and tho cost is projsiiatiro to the poor. An undvfendt-d ■jiat, if hoth parties livo in London, £30 to £3Z. By suing in forma pafjnerui, the cost can be reduced but frfy ilifiht'ry—to £20 or £30. If the jfttxties live in the provinces tho erst is '4oublo or more. In a defended suit the average cost is £200. The propoatl .to transfer provincial cases to ;«<«roty courts and assizes is, therefore, tlfltely to be endorsed. Another important point submitted to the Com:_iaion is the publication of r.r_tarts of dirbrc© cases.