DIVORCE AND MORALS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12927, 22 November 1912, Page 3

DIVORCE AND MORALS

LONDON, November 15. Tho people of England are dividing themselves into two hostile camps over the reports of the Divorce Commission; Supporters of the minority report contend.that if divorce is made easier and cheaper it will have a demoralising effect on the homes and the morals of the country. They approve of the recommendation tliat both sexes should be placed on an equality as regards the grounds upon which a . dissolution of marriagS. is obtainable, but say that otherwise tho grounds of divorce should not be extended.

Mr Bernard Shaw considers that tht. moral to be drawn from tlie report of tlio Divorce Commission is : "Don't get married."

Mr John Galsworthy thinks that the alarm which the report has aroused in church circles is unnecessary. The report seems to him to be based on a cynical view of human nature.

Tho minority report, which was signed by the Archbishop of York. Sir W. R. Anson, and Sir L. T. ' Dibden, favors, equality of the sexes, but recommends that ' valid marriages shall continue indissoluble except in case of misconduct. The' grounds on which the commission recommends that it should \be competent for both sexes to obtain divorce were :— Misconduct, desertion for three years, cruelty, incurable insanity after five years' confinement, habitual drunkenness, after three years, imprisonment under commuted sentences.