The Divorce Law.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XII, Issue 6, 1 December 1921, Page 329

The Divorce Law.

How little consideration was given to the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act of last year, which has been under the fire of the Christchurch Synod, is made evident m the pages of Hansard. The bill was brought before the House at 4 p.m. on November 6th, and it passed its. second reading, was dealt with m Committee, arid read a third. time and passed, by 5.35 p.m. The discussion ■consisted practically of a speech by the Minister m charge of the bill and a warmly approving oration by Mr Wilford. The mood and method of the House are shown by the only other speech, delivered by Mr Lysnar when .Mr Wilford sat down. It is instructive enough to be ' quoted m full: — -"I should like to say a hurried word on this Question. I wish to compliment the Minister on bringing this bill forward, y. think it is a step m the ■/-right defection. " Almost Mr Lysnar apologised for spending* ten seconds on the measure, , which really

gave no ex,ercise, : mental or otherwise, to anyone but the SergeantratArms, whose business it was to 'see that the Mace was on the table while the Speaker was m the chair, 'and to rush it under the table whenever the House went into Committee to gallop thrpugh. the farce of legislation. Perhaps a little more attention would have been given to the measure if it had been brought down early m the session. Already it. is perhaps too late for a bill tnis session which shall be carefully considered, although Mr Massey appears to have m mind some revision of , the hasty work of last year. The Synod takes' a severe view of divorce, and no doubt it would be difficult to obtain general approval of the austere law that it would approve. But m a time when morality r .is grown lax, and old sanctions are, being cast off— when, m fact, a dissolute attitude towards divorce is becoming common, it is necessary that the severe view shall be strongly held and boldly advocated.— Christchurch ''Press".