"NO CHILD" DIVORCES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3513, 26 June 1920, Page 7

"NO CHILD" DIVORCES.

PRECEDENT IN ITALY. GREAT INTEREST AROUSED. "Widespread interest, and controversy are certain to be aroused by an extraordinary matrimonial decision in an Italian lv v court... The annulment of a .marriage has been ordered by a tribunal :>t Mih'.n on the grounds that it was childless. This decision i* expected to cause numbers of annulments —for there is no divorce in Italy on similar

is endorsed by the whole Italian Press, and the Socialists are preparing to submit a motion in the Chamber that marriages shall be e.oinpulsorily annulled if there are no children. Mrs M. L. Seaton-Ticdenian, secretary of the Divorce Law Reform Union in Britain, when discussing the decision, said: "There is no doubt that there are thousands of people who would welcome a change in the law that would make a similar decision possible in this country. Where a childless marriage leads to excessive unhappiness and separation, and which is continued, say, for three years, an opportunity might well be given to the parties to seek divorce. We frequently receive letters from men and women in this unhappy position. There are many childless homes where children are eagerly desired. Often a man writes: 'I thought that I was marrying someone who would bo the mother of my children, but she refuses to be.' Often, too, a woman writes: 'I found after I had married that my husband had no intention of having any children. If I had known this earlier I would certainly not have married him. 5 It is no exaggeration to s ay." added Mrs Seaton-Tiedeman, "that there are thousands of such eases. Almost invariably they result in unhappiness and separation. "It is a gross impertinence in Italy. where women are not represented in the Legislature," said Miss Florence Underwood ; secretary of the Women's Freedom League. "The advocates of compulsory annulment of marriage for this reason will find no adherents among British women."