DR GEIKIE-COBB ON DIVORCE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1929, Page 8

DR GEIKIE-COBB ON DIVORCE

NEED' FOR MARRIAGE REFORM. LONDON, September 14. “The old idea that the wife is the property of the husband, is, dead and damned. It is neither logical nor human,” This was one of the statements made last night by the Rev. Dr Geikie-Cobb, Vicar of St. Elthelberga the Virgin’s Church, Bishopsgate, the chairman of the Marriage Law Reform League. Dr. Geikie-Cobb, who- delivered an address on Monday at the Third International Congress of the World League for Sexual Reform, in which he spoke of England being “priest-ridden, )r has been making world-wide investigations into the question of the divorce. Last night he outlined the six central causes for which, it is urged, divorce should be granted and which agree almost entirely,with those put forward in Lord Buckmaster’s Bill. These causes are: Adultery, which is accepted as grounds in,so different countries. Habitual drunkenness, Cruelty, Desertion, Lunacy, and Imprisonment, when for a life sentence, or where the sentence carries with it odium. TRIED FOR LIFE

Dr Geikie-Cobb said: Marriage carries with it certain ends, but when these ends cannot be obtained there is no sense in retaining matrimony. L mentioned that England was “priest-ridden.” By that I mean that the Roman Catholic idea that marriage is for the procreation of children and for companionship, and that divorce is impossible, is accepted widely in this country. The offended party is only allowed separation, with bed and board, but no release. Think how hard this is! I know of a young man of 25 whose wife, became a hopeless lunatic a week after they were married. Now he is tied to her for life. Other countries are far ahead of England. It is quite- inhuman that the decreee. pf separation should be made a bar tq divorce. Divorce should follow after a number of years. The Scandinavian “countries are mueji.better off, and Lativa especially, where divorce by mutual consent is allowed. That is, of course, ideal, hut England is not prepared for that and I would not urge it now. We want the question brought up in the House of Commons as a non-party affair.