DIVORCE PETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 89, 12 October 1934, Page 11

DIVORCE PETITIONS

LAST YEAR'S FIGURES

INCREASE RECORDED

INTERESTING ANALYSIS

Judging from the annual report on. justice, statistics compiled by the. Census and Statistics Office, the view expressed in certain quarters thai, divorce is increasing in New Zealand' can be substantiated. The report states that the number of petitions filed for dissolution of niaiv riage last yCar was 19 more than hi 1932 and 38 more than in 1931. In 1931 the smallest number, was recorded since102S. Petitions for restitution, of conjugal rights show a fairly substantial increase over the figures for 1932, but petitions for judicial separation show a decrease. Altogether -804 petitions for divorce were filed last year; 683 decrees nisi were granted, and there were 648 decrees absolute. Petitions for restitution of conjugal rights totalled 118, and 77 decrees were granted. For comparative purposes the following aTe the corresponding figures for 1924: —Divorce petitions filed- 768, decrees nisi 651, decrees absolute 526; petitions filed for restitution of conjugal rights 94, decrees for restitution 65. PETITIONS ANALYSED. Of the 804 divorce petitions filed last year, the greater number were by wives, the figures being husbands 384, wives 420. Altogther 318 decrees nisi were granted in husbands' petitions and 365 in wives' petitions. . Separation for not less than three' years was the principal ground stated in the petitions. There were 230 wives who petitioned on this ground and 154 husbands. Petitions founded on adultery are next in order, and, according to the figures, wives have been the worst offenders. Husbands' petitions founded on this ground totalled 114 and wives' petitions .57. The figures in. respect of other grounds,. husbands V petitions being given first in each instance, are:—Bigamy, 1, 1; desertion, 65, 93; drunkenness with cruelty, failure to maintain, etc., 1, 7; insanity, 5, 4; malformation; 1, 1; non-compliance with order for restitution of conjugal rights 43, 27. The greatest number of petitions was filed at Auckland, where there were 285. Wellington was second with 173, and Christchurch next with 108. The figures for the other 15 Courts, range from one (Hokitika)' to 45'(Hamilton). DANGER SPOTS. Another interesting set of figure* shows that the greatest number of decrees absolute were granted last year, both as regards husbands' and wives' petitions, in cases where the duration, of the marriage at the date of the petition was five and under 10 years. _ ,

In a table dealing -with the relative ages of the parties it is also shown that it is not the best policy apparently for the ages of husband andwifaf to differ too greatly.;