DIVORCE AMENDMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2317, 18 August 1921, Page 2

DIVORCE AMENDMENT.

OBJECTION FROM CHRISTCHURCH.

Christchurch, Aug. 1G

At a meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations the recent amendment to the Divorce Act was discussed,-and the following motion was passed: —“That this council, while recognising the difficulty the Government must have in framing marriage laws, views with grave concern the lax legislation recently enacted, and calls attention to the following grave defects: —(I) The clause that maker- refusal to obej an order for the restitution of conjugal rights opens the door to plot and collusion. (2) The fact that divorce may be granted after three years’ separation by mutual consent of the parties without a moral offence having been committed by either, is a new and unpleasant- feature. (3) That I hi- resolution be sent to'the other centres of the Dominion, with a view to united action by way of a deputation to the Premier.”

The “reasonable” clause in the Crimes Act was also dealt with, and a motion passed that a letter be sent to the Minister of Justice and local members of Parliament, urging an amendment to the Act in the direction of abolishing as a valid plea the statement : “That the prisoner had reasonable cause to believe the girl was over 1(5 years of age,” and also to extend to 12 mouths the time after commission of an offence during which a man committing it could be prosecuted.