DIVORCE AND ITS POPULARITY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4407, 13 July 1901, Page 3

DIVORCE AND ITS POPULARITY.

Mr Justice G. B. Simpson disposed of eight divorce suits in one day in Sydney recently, and in delivering judgment in one c f them quoted authorities who dealt with the danger of popularising divorce. His Honor expressed his concurrence with the sentiment that while it was wise to repress divorce, it was wiser still to go a step higher and repress conduct that made divorce possible. It was, he said, the foremost duty cf the court in dispensing the remedy cf divorce •to uphold the institution of marriage, for it was very true that the possibility of freedom begot a desire to be set free, and th e great evil of a marriage dissolved was that it loosened the bonds cf so many others. The case with which his Honor was dealing was on© in which petitioner admitted that she had married for money, and that when she found that her husband was poor she lost her regard for him. The petition was dismissed. The next case was one in which a selector, Wm. Allen, was petitioner. He appeared very nervous, and his Honor remarked, “If you get your divorce, do you intend to get married again?” Petitioner bluched as he renlied, “I hope so.” (Laughter.) His Honor: Are you engaged to anyone?

Petitioner; Not positively. (Laughter.)

His Honor: This man cannot get a divorce simply because he wants to get married again. I had a ease a while ago in which a man was quite content’ that his wife should stay away from him until she called round and asked for money.

Petitioner said that in the past he had not money to proceed with the suit. His Honor: Everybody seems anxious to he divorced. Only to-day I got a letter enclosing two stamps so that I might reply, in which I am asked what it will cost to get a divorce. The letter is in these terms :

“Mr Justice Simpson, Judge of Divorce.—Sir,—By which way can a poor man enter th e Divorce Court and. get a divorce from a woman, and what is the least expense that it is subject to? Kindly reply, and you will oblige me very much, and word will be thankfully received.—Yours respectfully, —” _ His Honor said that probably the desire for divorce was spread by the reports in the newspapers. He had sent the letter he had just read and the stamps to the registrar in divorce, and the writer would get his reply. His Honor, continuing, shid; —“On e ' day I proposed to grant a young woman her decree nisi, and make it returnable in three months. She said to me, ‘Cannot your Honor make it shorter than that?’ I said, ‘Why? Have you any particular reason? Do you want to get married again?’ She said, ‘Well, your Honor, I’m engaged.’ So you se e she was actually engaged again before she gof her divorce. She said to me, T’ve got this chance, your Honor, and if I miss it I might not get another one.’” (Great laughter). _His Honor, having related these experiences, reserved judg" ment in th e case under review.