UNHAPPY MARRIAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1933, Page 8

UNHAPPY MARRIAGE

5 HIGH cost to husbands. I BRITAIN’S MAINTENANCE BILL. ! The, matrimonial injustices which are being borne by thousands of husbands in Britain who are separated from their revives or divorced are likely to be drastically revised if the Bill which Lord Snell is to introduce becomes law. • " Lord Snell, who is prominently identified with the Divorce Reform Union, says, lie intends to press for the establishment of special Courts of Domestic Relations. The whole problem of alimony and allowances, which are being paid to the tune of £10,000,000 every year, would be examined, in. a fresh light. It is estimated that since the Avar 25,D00 husbands have been divorced hy their wives. By far the greater proportion |bf these are paying alimony amounting to..anything between 30 per cent and 45 per cent, of their incomes. In addStion, an average of ',20,000 separations are ordered by the police courts every year, and while the amount of maintenance allowed is smaller, varying between 15s and £2 a week, millionsof pounds are paid annually by these •it'-i husbands.

Mrs Smeaton-Ticdcman, secretary oi the Divorce . Reform Union, recently expressed the opinion that a court should have the power to cancel the payment of alimony .immediately tlie wife married again. “As the law is at present,” she said, “a woiunn can perpetuate any spite she may have against her late husband by making him pity for the rest of his life, c\ r en though she may. be married again and in prosperous circumstances. He, too, may be married, Avith a Avife and children to support.”

I The police courts, Mrs Seafon-Tiede-man added, were not the most comI potent courts to adjudicate ' between ' married people who could not pull together. Petty sessional courts were i already overburdened. ' | “When the wife’s health has been impaired permanently by reason of the treatment she has received prior to her divorce or separation it is only right that the mail should pay,” Mrs Seaton--Tiedeman continued. . “The courts at present,, however, r are unable to discriminate between the j villain aiid the honest man who just • cannot get along with his wife.” j The latent, figure* i*how fli-t 0,10 in every 96 marriage! enA in the divine i ,