DIVORCE COMMISSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7067, 3 March 1910, Page 1

DIVORCE COMMISSION

VIEWS OF PROMINENT LEGAL WITNESSES. "SEPARATION A LIVING DEATH." By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 1. Giving evidence before the Divorce Commission, the Right Hon. Sir John C. Bigham, President of the Divorce ■Division of the High Court,. strongly opposed legal separations. He aroused considerable criticism by stating that men's misconduct was of less significance than women's. The Hon. Sir Henry Bargrave Deane, a Judge of tho Divorce Court, ! declared that separation orders are a living death, wrong altogether, and i leading to immorality. Mr Justice Deane and Sir George Lewis (the wellknown solicitor) favoured absoluto equality oft the sexes in connection with divorco proceedings. The Royal Commission was set up to inquire into the present state of the law, and tho administration thereof in divorce and matrimonial causes a-nd applications for separation orders, especially with regard to the position of the poorer clasps- in relation, thereto, and the publication of reports of such causes mid applications; and to report whether any and' what amendments should be made in such law or the administration thereof, or with' regard to the publication of such reports. The commissioners, of whom Lord Govell is chairman, are empowered to make an interim report with a view of enabling steps to be taken to icdress any hardship suffered under the existing law 1 by the poorer classes. The commission was set up at the instance of Lord Govell, who, in instancing the hardships of the poorer classes, referred to a case in which money was saved for twenty years to get a divorce in which there "was no defence at all. The costs in many cases presented insurmountable difficulties to the poor. The,cost of an undefended divorce suit now runs to .£3O or .£10; that of a defended suit may be, and often" is, several hundreds of pounds. In the years 1903-07 there was an average of 623 divorces, 23 j udicial separations, and Gas 9 Magistrates' orders—total 7605.