BROKEN MARRIAGES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 13

BROKEN MARRIAGES

EXPENSE TO HUSBANDS

The matrimonial injustices which are being borno by thousands of husbands in Britain who are separated from their wives or divorced, arc likely to be drastically revised, if the Bill which Lord Snell is ti introduce, becomes law: (states a London correspondent). Lord Snell, who is prominently identified with the Divorce Reform Union,! says he intends to press for the establishment of special Courts of Domestic Eolations. The whole problem of alimony and allowances, which are being paid to the tune of £10,000,000 every year, would be examined in a fresh light. It is estimated that since the war 25,000 husbands have been divorced by their wives. By far the greater proportion of these are paying alimony amounting to anything between 30 per cent, and 45 per cent, of their incomes. In addition, an average of 20,000 separations are ordered by the Police Courts every year, and while the amount of maintenance allowed is smaller, varying between 15s and £2 a. week, millions ; of pounds are paid annually by theso separated husbands. Mrs. Seaton-Ticdoman, secretary of the Divorce Reform Union, recently expressed the opinion that a court should have the power to cancel the payment of alimony immediately the wife married again. "As the law is at present," she said, "a woman can perpetuate any spite she may have against her late husband by making him pay for the rest of his life, even though she may be married again and in prosperous circumstances. He, too, may be married, ' with a wife and children to support." .The police courts, Mrs. Seaton-Tiede-man added, were not the most competent courts to adjudicate between married people who could not pull together. Petty Sessional Courts were already overburdened. "Where the wife's health has been impaired permanently by reason of the treatment she has received prior to her divorce or separation it is only right that the man should pay," Mrs. SeatonTiedoman continued. "The Courts at present, however, are unable to discriminate between tho villain and the honest man who just cannot get along with his wife." Tho latest figures show that one in every 96 marriages end in the Divorce Courts.