SOME PECULIARITIES OF DIVORCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7139, 28 May 1910, Page 4

SOME PECULIARITIES OF DIVORCE

The Royal Commission - now sitting on divorce in England lias been the means of unearthing:, lock, stock, and barrel, the multifarious grounds which tho legislative wisdom of Europe has devised for the several observances of its peoples. Beginning with Austria, and putting on one sjde the very, usual pro-vision.-that separation only is available to Catholics, “ insuperable together with misconduct is a sufficient ground for divorce, but the court must attempt to bring' about a reconciliation between the parties. As to what that attempt consists of we are not enlightened.' Greeks resident in Austria have a similar right to release, but the emotion necessary is of a coarser nature, viz., "irreconcilable hatred." In Belgium the , unfortunate spouse has among other avenues of release - " the mutual and unwavering consent of the parties " and misconduct of ; the- husband only if he shall have kept tho co-respondent . in the common residence. Greece possesses‘a peculiarly:interesting divorce code. The husband may procure divorce for . an' attempt upon his life (apparently by anyone), non-disclosure of tho wife's knowledge of a plot against his life, non-disclo-sure to the husband of, her knowledge of a' conspiracy against the (this 1 is also allowed the wife), staying the night at another house ; except the house of her parents, attending races, theatres, or sports without the husband's consent, or. attending dinners or bathing in the company of men against the husband's wisli. As compared with these grounds the rest of Europe <f pale their ineffectual fires." As is generally known, the, Catholic countries as a whole have no divorce law, and permit separation only. In- Ireland divorce is by Act of Parliament, a somewhat expensive process. In Russia an additional terror is added to "banishment, to Siberia," inasmuch as it constitutes a ground of divorce. Lutherans in. Russia have more than a dozen grounds available, including attempt to poison, madness, and refusal to . fulfil conjugal duties (a survival from the olil Roman law). Of the colonies the most notable is the ’ Canadian custom, where divorce by Act of Parliament obtains in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and the' North-west Provinces, in • addition, it is presumed, to the ordinary remedies on resort to tho Civil Court.