THE DIVORCE LAW

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 10

THE DIVORCE LAW

PROPOSED ADDITIONAL GROUNDS A QUESTION OF POLICY BILL REFERRED TO COMMITTEE That any extension of the grounds for divorce was a matter of policy to be deteinuiied bv the Government and for introduction in a Bill other, than one consolidating the existing law was indicated bj the Attorncy'C’Cnerul (Hon. r. «• Rolleston) in the House ot Representatives last night d ul ■ the second reading of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill.

In moving the second reading of the Bill the Minister stated that tn addition to being a consolidation the measure hvnno-hf the law generally up to (Lite. MdtSile amU of work hml been nut into the consolidation, . and tne measure had been arranged in sections considered highly desirable. For instance all the grounds for divorce were grouped in one action. The. law itself was not altered in any drastic respect. In le card to domicile, the Bill proposed that the wife who sued for divorce on the ground of separation was placed on the same footing as the wite who sued for divorce on the ground of desertion. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) said that the Minister had uot mentioned one revolutiomu y change—the alteration of the term “dissolution of marriage” to the word The Attorney-General: Is that ret o--lUtMr n . aHolland: “It reminds one of the alteration ‘grammatical to verbal. (Laughter.) Mr. Holland said that durin" the visit of the American fleet sailors married New Zealand girls, and the domicile under the law was appaientIv the United States. Unless, thcie v\eio m-o’-isien in ztlie present Bill, it meant that a deserted wife who desired divorce would have to seek it in America. Could not a “eneral law be made to meet such cases? He considered the Minister was well advised in haying the Bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Mr. T M. Wilford (Hutt) said that under the present law, when a- husband issued petition agains his wife ioi divorce on the ground of adultery, the papers were served on the male co-re-snondent. yet. when a wife proceeded against her husband on the same ground there was no requirement to notity the second woman of the charge made. That woman —the female co-respondent —might nover know that her character was being assailed. He had known cases where that had happened. That was wrong, lhe female co-respondent had the right to intervene if she heard that the charge was made; and that had been done successfullv in some cases. Mr. Wilford. urged the'Minister to include a clause ill (he Bill' (o remedy that anomaly. Replying, the Attorney-General said that in introducing the consolidation it had not been intended that the ground for divorce would be re-opened. Any extension of the grou-nds for divorce was a question of policy for the Government, and would have to be the subject of a separate Bill, so (hat the House, and not a committee, would have the first opportunity of discussing any such proposal. The Government bad decided as a matter of policy 1 that-there should be no extension of the grounds for divorce —— Dlr. 'Wil.for'l : Do you mean never? The Minister: No-. only in regard to nrrnj’nt consolidating men sure. The BUI wns read a second time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

‘’RIDING TO ORDERS”

MR. J. HOWARD AND ■LABOUR PARTY

“So you are riding to orders then.” said the Prime Minister (lit Hon. J. G. Coates), in the House of Representatives last night, when Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) was discussing the Labour Party’s policy. • Mr. Howard had been referring to the use of land, and the Prime Minister had asked: “Is usehold the Labour Party s policy?” Mr. Howard: If that means _ that the lands must be used.—Yes, certainly. “Still the same,” murmured the Prime Minister. Mr. Howard: Yes. The Prime Minister: Unaltered. Mr. Howard: It never has been altered'since I joined the Labour Party. The Prime Minister: And never will? Mr. Howard said that new men might arise who might alter the policy. The people in the rank, and file outside the House made the policy of the Labour Party, and the Leader of the Labour Party in that connection took his place the same as other men. The Prime Minister: I realise the hon. member is riding to orders. (Laughter.) Mr. Howard: I realise the right hon. member is straining the point I have made. ■ '

Mr. T. M. -Wilford (Hutt), who returned to Wellington by the Maunganui from a world tour, resumed his place ir the House of Representatives yesterday.