FEWER BROKEN HOMES

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28130, 20 November 1956, Page 7

FEWER BROKEN HOMES

DIVORCE PETITIONS ON DECLINE FAIRLY STEADY TREND OVER 10 YEARS The number of broken homes resulting in successful petitions’ for divorce has dropped by one-third in New Zealand over the last 10 years. A survey published in the Abstract of Statistics shows that 1379 decrees nisi were granted last year, compared with 2137 in 1946, a drop of 758. The fall year by year has been steady apart from a small rise recorded in 1952. Decrees absolute have followed a similar pattern. The number has fallen by 661 in 10 years, from 2133 in 1946 to 1472 last year.

Since 1946 the trend reverses a steady increase in the incidence of divorce, with minor fluctuations, during the previous 20 years. The number of petitions filed and decrees granted for noncompliance with orders for restitution of conjugal rights increased by 89.4 and 95.9 per cent, respectively between 1953 and 1955. This was due to amending legislation, passed in 1953, which made considerable changes. There was a substantial increase in the number of decrees made on the ground that the J parties had lived apart for not less than seven years.

The report adds that of the 1799 petitions filed during 1955 for dissolution or nullity of marriage, 916 were husbands’ petitions and 883 were petitions by wives.

Principal grounds for decrees absolute granted were: 331: desertion, 223; noncompliance with order for restitution of conjugal rights, 35: separation for not less than thre<* years. 771; having lived apart for not less than seven years. 84; other grounds. 28.