RENO BOOMING

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1936, Page 7

RENO BOOMING

51 All i; I AC EK—MIT ttIVOBCK

NEW YORK, October 11

A marriage boom without precedent is being recorded at Reno, the renowned divorce capital of Nevada. In the first nine months of tins year only 2300 divorce suits were filed there, which is below the figure of last year, hut 5588 marriage licences were issued, showing an increase of 25 per cent. Most of the brides and bridegrooms were Californians. In that State what is known as n “gin marriage” law requires a three days’ wait between notification of an intention to wed and the issuance, cf the license. California enacted this law in an attempt to discourage impulsive midnight marriages, in which one or both of the parties were often intoxicated. The lucrative divorce business at •Reno showed an upward trend in the years 1934-35 compared with the two preceding depression years, but even to-day’s figures are far below the peak year, 1931,. when 4475 divorces were granted.

Rentals at hotels and apartment houses have sky-rocketed during tho past summer owing to the inlliyc .of hoiieymooners as w< ?! as -divorceseekers, who are compelled to establish a six week’s re.bdenre before getting a divorce.