LESS MONEY FOR DIVORCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21539, 11 January 1932, Page 12

LESS MONEY FOR DIVORCE

FEWER SYDNEY PETITIONS BIG NEW YEAR RUSH EXPECTED. Figures published in Sydney prove once more that “ business ” in the Divorce Court is governed by the economic condition of the people. With the money flowing freely into the common pocket New South Wales had had 2000 petitions filed in one year. With the general income temporarily restricted only 1600 petitions were filed last year. Though actual figures were not available, 1932 was expected to start with a big rush of cases. Apart from the increase in petitions which will almost certainly follow a freer flow of money, a large number will be carried over from the last law term. This was inevitable. For 10 weeks the attention of the Judge in Divorce, Mr Justice Owen, was confined to the big Field suit, which is expected to last at least another month after the resumption of the court on February 11. Normally, the judge accounts for an average of from IS to 20 undefended cases a day, so that his preoccupation with the Field suit for SO working days means that at least 750 cases which he might otherwise have dealt with have had to stand in abeyance. Some of these have been disposed of by an assisting judge, but the majority have been carried over into the new year.