THE DIVORCE ACT

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 40, 16 August 1921, Page 7

THE DIVORCE ACT

OBJECTION TO RECENT AMENDMENT. (II TIL«G!tAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) OHRISTCHTJROH, This Day. At a meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations the recent amend-ment-to the Divorce'Act 1 was discussed, and the following motion was passed :— "That this council.'while recognising ,tho difficulty the Government-,must have in framing marriage laws, views with grave concern the lax legislation recently enacted, and calls attention to the following grave defects : (1) The clause that makes refusal to obey an order for the restitution of conjugal rights opens the door to plot and collusion. (2) The fact that divorce may be granted after three years' separation by mutual consent of tile parties without a moral offence h,av- ■ ing been committed by either is a new and unpleasant feature. (3) That this resolution be sent po the other centres of the Dominion, with, a view to united action by way of a deputation to the Premier." . The "reasonable" clause in the Grimes Act was also dealt with, and a motion ■passed that a latter be sent to the Minister of Justioej and local members <rf Parliament, iirginjj; an amendment to the Act in the direction of abolishing as a valid plea ihe statement : "That the prisoner had reasonable cause to believe the girl was over sixteen years of age," and also to extend to twelve months tha time after commission of offence, during which a man committing it could be prosecuted. • .