DIVORCE LAWS AMENDED

Chronicle (Levin), 12 April 1946, Page 7

DIVORCE LAWS AMENDED

proyision for certain war marriages WELLINGTON, April 11. Liiportant amendments to New Zealand 's divorce laws are provided for in the Matrimonial Causes (War Marriagesj Enxergency Regulations whieh are published with to-night's Gazette. The purpose of Part I of the Regula: tions is tworold. This part eonfers on the Hupreme Court jurisdiction to pronounee a decree of divorce or^nullity of marri'age at the suit of a wife married during the war to a person domieiled abroad/ if the wife was domiciled in New Zealand up to the time of the maxria'ge. It will also give authority for. the- recognition of decrees of other British • eountries granted under_ similar extended jurisdiction, and will invite recognition abroad oi" decrees pronounced under this legislalion in Aew Zealand. Part '■> of the Regulations has thrce purpotes. I11 the lirst place it pro vides J or recognition in New Zealand •f American decrees of divorce if thc husband was domiciled in the United Atrituj xnd the wife was, immediateiy ixefore the niarriage, domiciled in New Zeamud Secondly, it will permit for a lxmited time a wife formerly domidJed in New Zealand and married to a ] ersou engaged in any capacity coniu ct ed with the war, to petition. on Ihe grounds of desertion without lmviug to wait for a period of three years to pm-K. The third cxxso provided for is the cese of a New Zealand husband marriec abroad who was engaged abi-f ad ixi a capacity connected with Ihe vv:n and whosu wife has deserted fhim. Ii the lattcr two cases the Court vvilt require to be satislied, on strict proof, that desertion has taken place, but a period of six nionths will be sub . stiluled for three years as the time to expire beiore presenta'tiou of the petition. 1 'x.5 Regulations are strictly linxited to mairiages conlracted betwoeu the outb' eak of the war and a date to be lixerl 3* the end of tlie emergeney for whic.ii the Regulations were created.