Easier-Divorce Plan

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31866, 19 December 1968, Page 17

Easier-Divorce Plan

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, December 18. The House of Commons has approved a bill to make the breakdown of a marriage the sole ground for divorce in Britain. The bill, on which the Government remained neutral, was adopted by 183 votes to 106, a majority of 77. Approval agreement in principle means that the measure now goes to the committee stage and has a good chance of becoming law. After the committee stage it is given a third reading I before it is sent to the House lof Lords.

During the Commons debate, a Labour M.P., Mr David Weitzman, said he bad been a barrister for 44 years and thought the bill would not undermine the sanctity of marriage—as a previous speaker had claimed—but would make it more of a reality. It would, he said, bring happiness and relief to thousands of couples living in social sin, and the blessing of legitimacy to many children. Under existing British law a petitioner must prove a matrimonial offence, such as adultery, cruelty or desertion. The bill would allow couples to divorce by agreement after two years separation or after five years separ-

ation even if one partner objects. The courts would also have power to adjourn a case indefinitely if they believe there is a reasonable prospect of reconciliation. One critic, Sir Lionel Heald, a former Conservative Attorney-General, told the House: “It will be a bad day for Britain if the law not only promotes and encourages divorce for the sole purpose of enabling a man to marry another woman, but enabling him to do so every five years.” A Labour supporter, Mr Leo Abse, referring to previous attempts towards easier divorce, claimed that the hopes of at least 250,000 Britons had been raised and subsequently dashed in the past.