WIVES FOR SALE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1920, Page 11

WIVES FOR SALE.

NOVEL CUSTOM IN WALES. That wives are still marketable goods in some parts of the kingdom, notably South Wales, was the astonishing fact revealed in the Divorce Court in London. During the hearing of a petition, a corespondent said that he took another man's wife because he understood that there had been a "dissolution of partnership in writing" between husband and wife. Mr. Justice McC'nrdie said that in bigamy eases at Manchester and other places in the north he had had letters handed to him showing that husband and wife had decided to dissolve partnership, and had done so in writing. Mr. Tynedale said he knew of a particular district in South Wales where contractu for the bargain and sale of n wife were often entered into. He added that he had advised in such cases mora than once. The Judge: Do they put it into writing themselves? Mr. Tynedale: Yes, they do not get lawyers to draw up the document. "It is quite a common thing in the collierv districts of Wales for a miner to sell his wife," said Mr. Tynedale to a Press representative. The usual form of contract is something like this:'—l £IOO for the wife of , and take possession of her from this date. "I have dealt with hundreds of such cases," continued Mr. Tynedale; "the last was six months ago. I think the practices dates back hundreds of years. Of course, it was not at airy time recognised by law." ■' ■ -?