IS POLYGAMY TO DISAPPEAR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3220, 19 May 1924, Page 2

IS POLYGAMY TO DISAPPEAR.

If was my fortune to be in South Africa at the time when the Indian Passive Resistance Movement was at its height, and in all the discussions for and against the admission of Indian settlers, and their treatment when settled, one of the things that stands out in my memory most wns the .assertion made by the Indian leaders that polygamy was not in fact largely practised by the Mohammedan community.

Undoubtedly there seems to be a very lively movement within the bounds of the Mohammedan faith for some recognition of monogamist. This is indicated by the animated discussion which has broken out in the Turkish press. The question has arisen out of the so-called Family Rights Bill, which is soon to come up for discussion in the Grand Assembly. Whether polygamy will be abolised or not seems at present to be very doubtful. The Turkish ladies of the educated classes are almost solid against the continuance of the practise, and meetings to urge the abolition of polygamy have been held not only in Constantinople but in various other towns, such as Brusa."

Opinions among tlie men appear to lit* mon' divided, though it is not necessary to take too seriously all the suggestions which have hceu published during the last few days. One of the great arguments adduced by advocates of polygamy is that it diminishes prostitution, but even this is denied by their adversaries, who declare that if need and .poverty are the main causes of driving women into immor'.eUty, it WMtW W better tv, ttrwt svreh women work rather than increase by polygamy the number of those women who live upon somebody else, and thus consume without doing any useful work iu exchange.

The desire to increase the population is doubtless at the hack of much of Hie support of this practise, which, ia fact, has been discontiuuued by many of the more liberal-minded Turks for many years past. The probability, however, of achieving even I his object is challenged by many writers, who advocate rather that greater attention should be paid to the very high infant mortality and generally to the public health. The debates on the Bill, when it comes ii]> for discussion, should furnish a further indication how far the country has advanced towards a parity "ilh the civilised nations of iKurope.