DIVORCE BOOM

Evening Star, Issue 24325, 14 October 1942, Page 2

DIVORCE BOOM

N.S. WALES ALL-TIME RECORD “ ALLOTMENT ” MARRIAGES THE CHIEF CAUSE CN.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, October 10. Divorce petitions are being lodged in New South Wales at the rate of 3,500 a year—an all-time record. So far this year some 2,000 people have spent approximately £IOO,OOO on regaining their single _ status. While every other class of litigation is undergoing a war slump, the Divorce Court is booming. , ’ Psychologists and lawyers agree that the emotional strain of war conditions, often leading to hasty, impulsive marriages, is the main root cause of the present increase in divorce. “ But the record figures now reached will be small by comparison with the post-war rush,” warns a prominent Sydney divorce barrister. “In England after the last war, special judges had to be put on the Bench to cope with congested divorce lists. The same thing must happen in Australia after this war.” In New South Wales, almost 8,000 marriages have ended in the courts since the war began. This represents a rise of about 30 per cent, over the usual number of peace-time divorce actions. And in the past few months the number of actions has risen more sharply than ever. “ Allotment marriages ” are seen by some solicitors as a chief cause of divorce. Many girls are said to have married simply for their soldier-husbands’ allotment. Divorced, they get alimony—so they gain financially either way. But while service marriages feature prominently on the divorce lists, it appears that the war has also disrupted the lives of a great many civilian couples. “ These are stirring, reckless, emotional times,” says Dr A. F. Martin, Sydney psychologist. “ Few people can escape being affected by them. There is a definite departure from the old moral regime. Old commandments and taboos are being disregarded. “ War urges us to live from day to day, and many people think it hardly worth while to make plans for the future. The unfortunate war-time philosophy is ‘ rush in and grab what you can.’ It is also sound reasoning, if somewhat flippantly phrased, that ‘ absence makes the heart grow fonder —of somebody else ’; and this undoubtedly is one reason for the great number of divorces among servicemen.” Film publicity for divorce, by which “ glamourised stars ” are brought under public notice every time they change their “ life’s partner.” is blamed for popularising the divorce courts. “ The films, too, treat divorce sympathetically and even make it seem romantic,” points out a Sydney lawyer; “It has become _ fashionable/ whereas once it was considered a disgrace.” Splitting of homes, through the compulsory evacuation of families, or because of husband’s or wife’s war service, has become a factor in ending many Australian marriages. Noteworthy is the fact that two-thirds of the divorces are sought by childless couples. Increased industrial opportunities for women, with high wages and new economic freedom, have helped to weaken home ties—especially when family ties are absent.