Growth in Divorce.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1922, Page 4

Growth in Divorce.

AUSTR ALT A N FIG USES

SYDNEY, Dee. 8,

Divorce in Australia, and in New South Wales in particular, lias had a remarkable growth during the past decade. Tho war is regarded as a large contributing factor.

in New South Wales ten years ago the sitting days iu divorce were three a week. Now there is sufficient .business in the Court to keep two Judges fully employed if the lists that aro pro soil ted for disposal at the regular sitings are to be cleared. It is not a: unusual thing for a judge who is assigned this work to get rid of 20 matrimonial suits a day. An analvsis of the available statisticfrom ICII lo 1021 reveals that 47K suits were disposed of in New Sout-I Wales Courts in that period. Situs the term illation ol the war there ha: been a remarkable and steady inereas in mairimoiiial eases, the number: being: For 1018, 380; 1910, 4*7; 1920 024 ; 1921, 1038; and the present yeawill apparently reach, if not exceed last j ear’s record. Statistics procurable from inter Slate records show that during Hit pre-war period the difference betwee: New South Wales and Victoria wa: little more than might be acc-ountei for by the disparity of populations, tTfigures for those States respective!.' being: For 3911-10 period, 3051 (Nc-v. South Wales), and 2150 (Victoria). Of the other States West Ansi rain lias produced a larger crop of divorce than the older eastern territories.