BREACH OF PROMISE CASES DEFENDED

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 64, 17 March 1931, Page 5

BREACH OF PROMISE CASES DEFENDED

WOMEN MUST UPHOLD RIGHTS, IS OPINION.

The bachelor judge, Sir Henry M’Cardie, who has been trying a breach of promise case at Home, remarked in giving judgment that instead of assisting womanhood, these actions greatly lowered her dignity. There was no more degrading occupation' for a judge and a jury, he added. Prominent city women, when asked for their views on the judge’s remarks, were unanimous in expressing the view that a woman must uphold her rights in such cases.

“If a woman is engaged to a man for some years,” said one, “and thAi the engagement is broken off by the man, it is a fairly serious thing for the woman, for her age would be a serious handicap to her re-engagement. Surely a woman should get some compensation in a case like that. She should be allowed to use any means to make a man suffer for such shameless treatment.” “ The Only Means.” Another woman held that marriage and divorce were better than a long engagement terminating in a breach of promise case. When married, the couple would grow more attached to each other, and if a divorce were necessary, it was generally mutually agreed upon. If,' on the other hand, a long engagement were entered upon, the parties would tend to drift apart, resulting in an unpleasant breach of promise case, which, though undesirable, was the only means of getting her rights. A city solicitor was of the same opinion as the judge. “ These cases are usually the result of a desire to ‘get one back’ on the breaker of the contract,” he said. “To stoop to such tactics for the sake of a few pounds damages must certainly lower a woman’s dignity.”