GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3497, 27 May 1920, Page 3

GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE

CONSEQUENCES OF AN INCAUTIOUS REMARK. WELLINGTON, May 25. In the Divorce Court to-day, Justice Edwards was again prompted to express his regret at the repeal of the law which made failure to obey an order for restitution of conjugal rights coustitvje a ground for divorce. The origin of the movement for the repeal is traceable to a remark once made by the late Justice Denniston in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth. Counsel was about to open a case in which restitution of conjugal rights was the main question, when his Honour observed: "Go on with the farce Mr— f This utterance led to widespread opinion that divorce by way of proceedings for the restituion of conjugal rights was a farce, and the Legislature barred the way to further "farces" of the kind. It has been contended that since the repeal there is a danger that married persons who are no longer cohabiting as man and wife may he induced to accept misconduct as the only "way out." "I repeat what I said on a former occasion<" said Justice Edwards to-day. "The repeal of the provisions in the divorce law to which I have referred was a blow to morality. The remark made by Justice Denniston was incautious, and I can now say from my seat upon the bench that no one regretted more than Mr Justice Dennis-

ton himself the fact that lie had made that incautious remark, and that it had led to repeal of provisions which his \ Honour recognised, quite as fully as I do, were in the intersts of morality. I do not speak of what I do not know. I speak of personal conversation with Mr Justice Dennisron and other judges—certainly some of them —upon this very matter/' WAR DECORATIONS. WELLINGTON. May 25. Supplies of the memorial plaques which the War Office are distributing to next-of-kin of those who fell in the war are now being received by Base ; Records. The plaques are made of copper, five inches in diameter and circular in shape. They are simple, yet artistic in design, each plaque bearing the words -"He died for free- , rlom and honour." On the front there is a representation of Britannia holding aloft a laurel wreath, and in the foreground is the- British lion. The regimental number and name of the deceased will be engraved on each plaque. It is anticipated that the work of issuing the "British war medal to those who served in the war will be com-. menced within the next three months, and the Allied victory medal will be available for distribution by the end of the year. Approximately 100,000 New Zealunders are eligible for both these medals, but the task of engraving and issuing them will involve an immense amount of administration work, for the personal file of each man has to be scrutinised carefully by Base Records in order thai the necessary date may be obtained. No decision lias yet been arrived at in connection with clasps, but it is understood that there are to be seven clasps for the Western front and three clasps for the other theatres of war.