DIVORCE LAWS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1912, Page 10

DIVORCE LAWS

The secretary of the Divorce Law Reform Union, of which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ie president, has forwarded a circular relative to the aims of the union, which are thus summarised: — ■ 1. Cheapening the cost of divorce procedure, co that it may be brought within the reach of all claeeqs— the coet at | present practically denying this relief to the greater portion of the community. 2. Placing the sexes on an equal footIng as regards offence and relief in matteie of divorce — thus adopting the course which' has been followed by nearly every other civilised country. 3. Discouraging tbo present system of permanent separation without the power of re-marriage, with Us> necessary encouragement of social irregularities, bigamy, aud illegitimacy ; and by making all separations convertible into divorce decrees after the lap.c of three yeaxe. 4. Extending the causes for which divorce may be obtained to include malicious desertion, incurable insanity, and chronic alcoholism— in these respects again following the progressive lead of other great countries. It is claimed by the union that the reform of the English divorce laws ie a matter which vitally aflecte the lives and happiness of many thousands of people within the United Kingdom. But the full effect of this important social question is not so narrow or local, nor may it be regarded with indifference by any portion of the Empire. There is, first of all, a close connection between tho divorce legislation of the Mother Country and that of the Dominions, and tin* Mtorni of tho English laws towards biinging them more into lino with the course adopted by practically every other Protestant country will asfcuredly carry great weight with tho colonial Legisiati_*i But in two other respects tho state of the English divorce laws more directly affects many residents in tho colonies : — - • Firstly. — Many persons residing in tho colonies, who have not abandoned their English domicil, are still subject to the English laws of divorce. Secondly.— According to British law, a wife acquires the domicil of her husband from the time of her marriage, all queeUcMie of divorce, «o far a_ she is concerned, being thenceforth regulated by the Englibh statutes on the tubject. The btato of the English divoico law is thus ;i matter of prime importance to those colonial women who may mairy Englishmen. The secretary of the union *Uter. that litviature- on the eubjert will bo forwarded on application to Ui*> oHk«, 20, Coptliall- avenue, London, li.Jj, i