12 NOVEMBER 1937, Page 3

Five years ago Mr. Clement Davies, K.C., having attained membership

of that select band known to newspaper readers as " eminent counsel," abandoned the Bar for the board- room. As he himself has been known to express it, he is now engaged in selling soap. The House of Commons, however, still has the benefit of his forensic experience, for he is a constant and constructive critic of the way in which the business of the Courts is carried on. In Monday's debate he delivered undoubtedly the most effective speech of the day. Our divorce law, as he pointed out, meets the needs of the very rich and the very poor. To the former the expense of the litigation does not matter, while the latter get legal assistance for nothing. But a man of small or moderate means may find himself financially crippled by the cost of taking, or still worse defending, divorce proceedings in London. Why defended divorces should not be tried on circuit Heaven (and possibly the Lord Chancellor) alone knows.

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