PRIVATE DIVORCE BILL.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 25, 29 July 1926, Page 10

PRIVATE DIVORCE BILL.

When the Mildred Elaine Smyth Divorce Bill was mentioned in the House of Representatives yesterday, tho member for Parnell (Mr. J. S. Dickson) raised a point against Parliament granting facilities to a private individual to obtain a divorco. Mrs. Smyth's husband was sentenced to imprisonment and the is now seeking a divorco. The Joint Committee on Standing Orders recommended that petitioner be allowed to proceed with her Bill notwithstanding that the Standing Orders had not beon complied with. Mr. Dickson objected to the report of the Committee, and said ho did not see why the House should be made use of to benefit any individual in the waydesired in the present case. The Attorney-General (the Hon. F. J. Kolleston) said that imprisonment by itself was not a ground for divorce unless the term was for bodily injury done to the wife. That was not the ground in the present , case. Mrs. Smyth had no remedy in the Courts for divorce, and she was asking Parliament to get a divorce for her. She was quite within her rights. It was competent for Parliament to dissolve a marriage. The Prime Minister said the merits of the case could bo discussed when the Bill came before the Houso. The recommendation of tho Joint Committee was agreed to by 62 votes to 7.