NEW DIVORCE LAW.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2274, 10 May 1921, Page 1

NEW DIVORCE LAW.

“A FRIGHTFUL MISTAKE.’

SWEEPING CONDEMNATION BY REV. DEAN MAYNE.

At evensong at St. .John's Cathedral, Napier, on Sunday, the Very Rev. Dean Mtiyne made some remarks on the much-discussed amendment of the Marriage Act of last

session

Tn introducing the matter, the preacher said that the law now permitted the divorce of married people after three years of separation, and Dean Mayne then asked, ‘‘l- it any wonder that Mr Massey went Home?” seeing that there had been so much condemnation of the decision of Parliament. Mr Wilford, who suggested a certain amendment, was referred to by the speaker as “He'.-- another beautv.”

In proceeding to condemn the new Act and the hurried nature of the consideration given to it, Dean Mayne said that from the Empire point of view the nation was now on (he edge of decay. History had shown, he said, that when the Roman Empire commenced to allow the sanctity of marriage laws to fall, the people as a whole commenced a retrograde movement, and it was to be hoped that wiser counsels would prevail. Loyally lo the Empire demanded that, our marriage laws should be no easy way out of the contract, which should last “until

death do us part.” Referring to another aspect of tile problem, the preacher said that. from a religious point of view the enactment was a frightful’mistake, and against the teaching of the Bible, which clearly laid it down that those who were made one by God “no man should put asunder.”

And.then the children should be considered. If such laws continued, what would become of the children'? asked the speaker, who said that during the week lie had read ■in the Telegraph that a magistrate had given permission for certain children to visit their father once a week. Was that where the new legislation was going to lead?

Dean Mayne said he had heard that the legislation was the outcome of a demand by certain persons in Wellington who were highly placed on the social scale.