ROYAL COMMISSION SUGGESTEDONE OUT OF 10 MARRIAGES ENDS IN DIVORCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 November 1949, Page 10

ROYAL COMMISSION SUGGESTED—ONE OUT OF 10 MARRIAGES ENDS IN DIVORCE

During 1948 there were 393,000 marriages in this country. In the same year 37,000 petitions for divorce were filed, . writes Lady Helen Nutting, chairman of Married Women’s Association, in the London News-Chronicle, That is, roughly, a proportion of one wrecked marriage to ev.ery 10 lasting ones, .

Those figures reveal a terrible situation, which is even worse than they indicate, for they do not take into account the untold numbers of legal and voluntary separations that take place every year. Nor does it follow that because a marriage endures it as a happy one. More is the pity. Many women who hold their marriage vows sacred stifle their unhappiness for the sake of maintaining a home for their children.

All this suppressed misery weakens home life and encourages social disintegration, for it is a law of human nature ever to seek compensation for its frustrations. Injustice breeds revolutionaries. No Time To Be Lost

There is no time to be lost if the marriage institution, upon which the well-being of our nation depends, is I to be saved from total wreckage. : Many thinking people are asking j themselves daily: “How?” j The answer can come best from a Royal Commission empowered to collect the evidence without which it is impossible to formulate an enlighten- : ed policy. I The Royal Commission I have in I mind would naturally be composed of i an equal number of men and women. Among them would be representatives of the Church, the law, medicine, ■ education,' and economic and social ‘ bodies. J They would collect evidence from ! all organisations concerned with the i welfare, both moral and physical, of i children, from the Mothers’ Union and kindred societies, from married men and women of all income levels, from probation officers, and from sociologists. Nor would the Commission limit its 1 inquiry to broken marriages, but ; would study just as carefully successful ones, and thus have the opportunity of analysing the factors contributing to the happy unions. Such an inquiry need cost the country no more than £.20,000—a small item in modern Government [ expenditure. I Topics For The Commission i If the report from a Commission of this kind were to have the maximum ■ value in the eventual planning of a sane policy of marital reform the Commission would,need to have the widest possible terms of reference and be empowered to inquire into the status of both husband and wife from every aspect—spiritual, financial, legal and domestic. These are some of the topics which, I believe, the Commission ought urgently to discuss: Factors which made a successful marriage. Causes of failure. . _ 1 How our marriage laws originated. The matrimonial laws of other countries, and how these laws have affected the rates of divorce, legal and voluntary separations, and illegitimate births in different nations, I am certain that many people : would be astonished by the evidence an inquiry into the history of our own marraige laws would bring to light. i Some of these laws date from pre- , Christian days, when a wife was i primarily regarded as a chattel. Being | completely obsolete, nre an af- • front to modern thought. For far too long have we been content to hide the truth about the laws ’and customs -we still allow to govern ! marriage. This knowledge has been ■ suppressed because many people are afraid that if you touch the institution of marriage it will promptly crumble. Fear Of Wip/es Again, many wives hesitate to make Iptblic the secrets of their homes, ana fear that if they do their husbands will desert them. So inadequate is our present machinery for enforcing a defaulting partner to pay maintenance that many wives go in terror of then husbands leaving them. This has re- ■ percussions of the most unhappy kind upon the children. Men, too, are frequently reluctant to consider the question of reforming marriage because they atre afraid that such reform must lead to the loss oi some of their sovereignty in the home. | Within our own country at present different marriage practices are observed by people in the higher income groups from those who earn less. These differences could profitably be reported upon by a Royal Commission. The attitude of women toward marriage has changed radically since the ; Industrial Revolution, which taught • them they had an individuality apart ’ from their husbands. When the factory ended the era of cottage industry, women went out to work in ever increasing numbers, thereby gaining in-

dependence for the first time. Butthat independence still awaits expression within the framework of most marriages. I should expect a Royal Commission to make recommendations showing how this could be done.

Moral Support Of Law Needed Nevertheless it must be stressed that whatever legal changes might follow an inquiry, twentieth-century opinion would still demand that no alteration to the general laws of marriage should debar couples from making their own private arrangements if they wished. What is needed is the moral support of laws, framed in accordance with modern needs and knowledge, as a wholesome standard by which we can measure our individual judgments, inclinations and practices. A Royal Commission on Marriage would be a gilt-edged investment for cur country, and a permanent insurance against some of the evils that arise from the injustices which affect both husband and wife under present conditions. Women’s Institutes Greymouth W.l. The Greymouth Women’s Institute held its monthly meeting in the Lyceum Hall on Wednesday. Mr McKnight presided over a good attendance. One new member was enrolled. A golden thread talk on “Women in China” was given by Mrs Pound. The president spoke on Miss Iris Crook’s visit to Greymouth, and Mrs Smart on the reception given in honour of Her Excellency Lady Freyberg. Greetings were received from the Taumarauni and Fareora Institutes. A practical demonstration on remodelling hats, given by Mrs McKnight, was most interesting. A social afternoon was given to honour Mrs F. Taylor and Mrs W. Green for the work they had done for the choral and drama festivals. Mrs Kennedy won the “mystery parcel.” The hostesses were: —Mesdames Denson, Mathias, F. Taylor anTT. Alder ton. Competition winners were: —Poppies, Miss Aston 1, Mrs Bradley 2; patchwork apron, Mrs Perrin 1, Mrs McKnight 2 Mrs Smith 3; ginger biscuits Mrs Johnson 1, Mrs McKnight 2, Mrs Green 3; bloom, Mrs Bradley l,.Mrs Johnson 2, Mrs Mathias and Mrs Perrin equal 3. Dobson W.l.

A social evening w’as’ held in the Dobson Hall on Tuesday when Trumans I, staged a fashion parade. Swimsuits, sportswear, day and evening dresses were paraded by Mesdames Mathieson, Beirne and Hodgkinson, Misses D. McArthur and P. Mooney. Lingerie shown was made by wellknown firms. Trina Magin, Lorraine Beirne and Susan Dick paraded summer and party frocks for small girls. Miss Pat Mooney took the part of the bride in the wedding group with V. Hodgkinson and D. McArthur as bridesmaids while Miss June Coutts sang “I’ll Walk Beside You.” Miss M. Gibb gave two Highland dances. Solos were sung by Mrs Buchanan and Miss J. Coutts. Music for dancing was played by Miss Watson. A light supper was served. Dunollie W.l. At the monthly meeting of the Dunollie Women’s Institute held in the St John’s Hall there was a good attendance of members, Mrs Barker presided and welcomed four visitors and five new members. The motto for the month was “If humble pie had to be eaten bolt it whole.” Mrs Webster was presented with a birthday spray. Mrs Smart demonstrated doll making. Mrs Tinning read a report' on the halfyearly meeting of institutes held at Stillwater and also gave the golden thread talk. It was reported that arrangements were well in hand for the Christmas party. Mrs Boote won the social competition and other competition results were:— Dress (made by a member), Mesdames E. Smith. E. Boote, Heslin, Tinning, E. Barker and Hambly equal 1; date loaf. Mesdames Boote 1, Hambly 2, Brown 3. The hostesses for the evening were Mesdames Warwick, Webster, Watson, and Syme. Cobden W.l. Mrs Haddock presided over the November meeting of the Cobden Women's Institute. There was a good attendance and one visitor was welcomed. Mesdames Haddock and Hayden were appointed hospital visitors for the month. The motto was “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Mrs Bellamy gave a comprehensive report on the Red Cross social, and the half yearly council meeting held recently at Stillwater. A Christmas parcel has been forwarded to the link, Oreleton, Shropshire. Mrs Nixon demonstrated the art of making felt toys. “If I could have one wish granted what would it be,” was the roll-call. Members subscribed well for “Pennies for Friendship.” Competitions resulted:—Mystery parcel, Mrs Martin; floating bowl, Mrs Brown, Mrs H. Anderson, Mrs Butterworth; collar, Mrs Brown, Mrs Jellyman, Mrs Nixon; plain cake, Mrs Nixon, Mrs Fleming, Hrs H. Anderson. Mrs F. Lindbom conducted an interesting social half-hour, which included games, and a novel choir competition. ■