DIVORCE COMMISSION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 68, 13 November 1912, Page 5

DIVORCE COMMISSION.

(Per Press Association.) London, November 12

The Divorce Commission recommends a s-mplified procedure of local hearing in cas 's where the joint income of a marr ed couple does not exceed , £3OO per annum; also for proceedings in forma pauperis. It proposed to extend th powers of summary courts to grant separations for immediate necessities, application for a permanent separation to be made to the High Court. It advocates a simple process of placing the two sexes on ©quality as regards the ground of divorce, which will be obtainable for adultery, desertion for three years, cruelty, incurable insanity (after five years’ confinement), habitual drunkenness (after three years’ imprisonment), and under a commuted death sentence. The grounds for nullity are to be incipient insanity, ep’lepsy, certain communicable diseases, pregnancy by another (all these if present and concealed at the time of marriage). Death is to be presumable after seven years’ total disappearance or if the Court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for supposing It. All matrimonial cases will be heard before a judge alone. The report also recommends the prohibition of the publication of reports until cases are finished. The judge to be empowered to order the exclusion of any portion of a case from publication.

The majority of the Divorce Commission consisted of nine. The majority recommended that all Britishers domiciled in England, but resident elsewhere in the Empire, in the event of their, cases being tried at the place of residence, to have a decree registered in England, such decree to be operative here if made on grounds permitted by English law. The minority’s report favours equality of the sexes, but recommends that val d marriages shall continue indissoluble except for adultery.