Special Courts for Settling Domestic Rows

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6631, 9 June 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

Special Courts for Settling Domestic Rows

New Bill to Come Before English Parliament

HAS G. K. CHESTERTON’S SUPPORT

Preparations are well advanced, for tlie presentation in Parliament of a Bill providing for the establishment of courts which will deal exclusively with matrimonial troubles, says "The Sunday News.” It has been generally recognised by prominent social workers for some time past that much of the time of police court magistrates in London and all over the country is taken up with the consideration of desertion and separation cases and other instances of marital differences. Very often magistrates are too much occupied with the general run of criminal offences to give husbands and wives the necessary sympathetic attention which their cases demand, and It has been felt that much matrimonial unhappiness could be avoided If such couples could have the benefit of separate courts, where expert knowledge and experience could be brought to bear on their difficulties. It is further argued that men and women in better circumstances than those who are forced to seek the aid of police courts can afford to go to the High Court where every facility Is provided for them, whereas the poor have no alternative to being mixed up with a long list of cases of drunkenness, assault, theft, and the* hundred and one other crimes which make up the usual procedure of the police court. Mr. Harry Snell, the Labour member for East Woolwich, has interested himself in the matter, and is working busily at the scheme which, it is hoped, will result in the establishment of the Courts of Domestic Relations in which these delicate matrimonial problems will receive the special attention they deserve. .Curiously

enough, Mr. Snell is a bachelor, but his life work in the field of social reform has brought him into close contact with many cases of connubial infelicity. General Support Mr. Snell’s idea has received pretty general support, and among many other sympathisers who have communicated with him, expressing approval, are several magistrates. Mr. Cairns, the Thames Police Court magistrate, is an ardent supporter of the project. “The ordinary police courts often have to deal with petty 'domestic grievances, most of which could be smoothed over in a conversational interview,” is Mr. Cairns’s opinion. “It is problematical whether a Bill for the provision of these courts can be introduced this session,” said Mr. Harry Snell, in an interview with a representative of “The Sunday News.” He wont on to say that there was strong reason for thinking that it will receive general support when it is introduced, however. "There are many details to work out,” continued Mr. Snell. “It may be that the work can be done in the existing courts apart from the ordinary business. “There undoubtedly is a strong feeling of resentment among poor people all over the country that their matrimonial troubles should bo made public in the usual court atmosphere of crime. Women Experts "Apart from this psychological aspect there is the fact that most courts are too busy with all kinds of other cases for the magistrates to give these unhappy couples much attention, in this connection there is a strong feeling that women magistrates would ho of invaluable assistance in dealing with such cases.” Another staunch supporter of Mr. Snell’s scheme is Mr. 0. K. Chesterton,