TRIAL DIVORCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1906, 14 November 1913, Page 3

TRIAL DIVORCE.

TEST AT HONEYMOON RENDEZVOUS. "Men and women of to-day 'arc foolish to go through life in loveless wedlock. Many have not tho courage of their convictions and remain married -uidr'e!y because the-jTffiar criticism. Wc pass through this world only once, and why not let.our journey he ono of happiness?"' In these words, Sirs. John Van Alstyne, tho wife of a Missouri capitalist, proclaims to-day lior contentment with tho terms of a trial idvoree agreed upon between herself and her husband on June 2 last. . The agreement contained tho.' following provisions :■—

Separation for a period of six months. No communication to ■ pass between the couple during that time. Tho couple to meet on December 2 at Colorado Springs in tho same hotel they visited-oh-their honeymoon twoyears ago. If, on meeting, they de» oido to bo legally divorced, the divoreo to be carried through without naming a correspondent.

Through ..tho medium of tho newspapers Mrs. Van Alstyne, who is residing temporarily at Los Angeles, now •says: "Three months' absence has not made my heart grow fonder, but convinced mo that I want a divorce. Our married life was never marred by cruelty or unkindness. There is no other man of woman in the case, but wo hare come to a full realisation that wo are unsuited to each other, , that Wo have ceased to love, and that our marriage is only a mockery."

Mr. Van Alstyno is .spending his period of trial divorce by travelling in Europe.

The. Auckland Weekly Half-Holiday Rill, a local Bill .introduced into tho House- of Representatives this session to permit of a fresh' half-holiday poll being taken in tho whole weekly halfholiday district, has apparently been given its quietus. The justification for the Bill in tho beginning was some agitation, and a series of petitions bearing somo 17,000 signatures asking for a .now poll. The Bill was, however, opposed in tho House, and among the opponents was Mr. A. Harris, member for certain suburban districts of Auckland. As a reply.to this petition, sonib of the supporters of tho Saturday half-holiday organised other petitions. These have been presented to tho House, with gome 16,000 signatures. Yesterday, . when these petitions wore referred by the House of Representatives to i-ho Labour Bills Committee,.Mr. J. H. Bradney, member for Auckland West, who is in charge of tho Bill, said that in view of tho fact that there was such a strong body of opinion in Auckland against the Bill ho would not press it. In fact, ho would bo quite prepared to drop it. /