DOMESTIC DISPUTES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20084, 2 November 1939, Page 16

DOMESTIC DISPUTES

NEW LAW OPERATIVE CONCILIATORS' DUTIES HOPES OF MINISTER (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Domestic Proceedings Act, 1930, which makes provision for the appointment of conciliators between husbands and wives prior to the institution of separation proceedings in court, came into opei uion yesterday. in an interview last evening, the Minister of Justice, the Bon. 11. G. R. itias <n. said that arrangements were in train to give practical effect to the, measure. "No one would suggest that we will l have 100 per cent of successes or any-1 thing like it," Mr. Mason said, "but we have every 1..r0e that we will have a sufficient proportion to justify the. efforts being made. "A serio' s social problem is involved. I think that without any exaggeration, it can be described as. perhaps, the most serious social problem we have. We are going to try and will do our best." The Minister said the Act mentioned certain types of person, such as probation officers, child welfare officers and maintenance officers, from whom conciliators might be appointed, but in making appointments magistrates were not limited to these, The hope that the great majority of cases would be referred to the conciliators, was expressed by the Minister. The Act provided that magistrates might nv.ke exceptions where they thought it proper, but one would expect them, under all ordinary circumstances, to refer tba question to a conciliator in the first instance.