DIVORCES GRANTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 17

DIVORCES GRANTED

QUESTION OF JURISDICTION AMENDMENT OF THE GROUNDS Tho adjourned hearing of a petition for divorce brought by Ellen Doris Manson (Mr. Finlay), against Norman Manson, of Bagdad (Mr. Holmden), was held before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court. Originally the ground for the petition was failure to comply with an order for the restitution of conjugal rights, but Mr. Finlay requested that this should bo amended to desertion. Mr. Holmden consented. His Honor made the amendment and granted a decree nisi. The amendment, ho said, gave a clear ground between the parties, whereas there was some question, on the original ground, concerning the power of the New Zealand Parliament to enact, under tho Constitution Act, a law binding upon a person who had, been living for some years outsido New Zealand, and who had no intention of returning to tho country for somo years. In tho circumstances it became unnecessary to make a decision on the question of jurisdiction, and tho decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute within three months. , GROSS PETITION SUCCEEDS CUSTODY OF A CHILD A decree nisi in favour of the respondent, James Maunsoll Wilson (Mr. Newbery), in a cross petition for divorce against Vera Mary Wilson on the grounds of separation, was granted by Mr. Justice Fair when the adjourned hearing of tho case took place in tho Supremo Court. Mr. Newbery said petitioner had decided not to proceed with her case on tho ground that it could not succeed. Although the respondent was now making a cross petition, the parties had agreed that the petitioner should have custody of tho one child of the marriage under tho age of 21 years. The decree nisi was granted in these terms.