MANY ANOMALIES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19646, 15 June 1929, Page 16

MANY ANOMALIES.

DIVORCE IN AUSTRALIA. UNIFYING THE LAV. IF*OM OC* OKS COP.2ESPOKi;F.N"I.) SYDNEY, June G. The decision of the Federal Government to bring all the States into line by unification of the divorce laws of tho Commonwealth, has V>een well received, for the grounds on which matrimonial relief may be granted differ widely, and there are many anomalies. However, it is feared in Borne circles that the unification will be delayed, for it cannot be eaid that the Bruce-Page Government is one of action. Many things that have been promised in the years that are paseed are still left undone,, and realising this the Methodist Conference, which has been sitting in Perth, resolved to ask the Federal Government to proceed with this latest reform immediately. For years South Australia has been regarded as the most retrograde State as regards the divorce laws. Desertion was not recognised there as a ground for divorce until the Matrimonial Causes Act came into operation last year. The divorce laws differ materially in each State. In Now South Wales it is held by the more conservative that the road to divorce is too easy. There were 1544 petitions in this State last year, and the majority of the suits were for the restitution of conjugal rights. One of the judges described this the other day as a short cut to divorce, and he said that in future he would not grant an order unless it was clear to him that the party applying for it was sincere in his desire that the other should return. It is claimed that the law as it stands leaves the wav open to connivance and collusion, and that the proceedings are often a travesty. On pv average an undefended suit on these grounds is put through in sis minutes, and Mr Justice James put through one suen case some mouths ago in 2* minutes. Habitual drunkenness for tnrea years, plus neglect, plus unfitness for domestic duties, constitutes "grounds in Victoria and New South Tvales, hut not in any other State. Desertion for three years br cither husband or wile is sufficient cause for divorce m tnese two States, but the desertion must extent to five vears in Queensland, bout.i Australia and Western Australia. Desertion is not recognised as a ground in Tasmania. I* a wife or husband has been in gaol for not less than three years preceding the petition for divorce, or is still under sentence for a capital crime, or undergoing penal servitude for seven years the other is entitled to div. r-e m South Wales, but these conditions aTe not allowed as grounds for divorce 11. nay other part of the Commonwealth. The term,, of the unification are not disclosed, but reformers hope to wipe awav altogether the law tor the. re.aLS of conjugal rights. But i» any case the divergent laws arc full of .n conrißtenrie.. and the proposed extension of Federal jurisdiction ™H do awav with many an-- .aahes.