PHOTOS PREFERRED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 14 November 1939, Page 8

PHOTOS PREFERRED

PROOF OF IDENTITY DIVORCE SUIT PARTIES OPINION OF JUDGE (Pel - Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The desirability of identifying ab- | sent parties in proceedings by their | photographs rather than by their signatures, was emphasised by Mr. ■Justice Northcroft during the hearing !of an undefended divorce case in the I Supreme Court this morning. ■ When the marriage certificate was ! produced, His Honour asked the petitioner when he had last seen his wife’s | signature. I The petitioner said he had his wife’s | signature on an insurance paper. “I do not propose to set myself up as an authority on handwriting, but there does not seem to be anything distinctive about this signature,” .said His Honour, referring to the marriage ! certificate. There was a time when ■identity was always established by photographs. “They are so numerous, j it is surprising that they are not used ! more often. Writing is somewhat a difficult means,” continued His | Honour. “With the multiplicity of j photographs, it ought not to be diffiI cult to revert to the practice of former | years.” j “Unfortunately in this case tnere are no photographs available,” replied counsel.

“It seems an unusual affair,” His Honour observed. “Most people are photographed ad nauseum.”

Identification of the signature was accepted, however, and the decree was granted.