LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
[Letters of the length of one of our leading par-agraphs arc. often more read, and therefore more effective, than those. which. fin treble the space.1 DIVORCE REFORM.
[Tp THE EDITOR Or TILE " SPEGRATOR.") Sue—May I again. trespess on a small pace in the Spectator in reference to the Metrimonial Causes Bill,, as I believe it is, entitled, in the House of Lemke with which I am in general agreement ? But I hardly think that it hes receiied the atten- tion and full discussion which it required, and 1 especially. refer to the change of venue from the County Courts to the Assizes. I understand that the two main objects of this legisla- tion are to give relief in certain new conditions, and to bring the relief within the reach of the poorer classes of wives in eases of adultery or desertion by their husbands, as set forth
in the Bill now under discussion. But whilst the removal of divorce eases to the Assizes will bring them within the reach
of the middle classes of moderate means, they are not the peoele who are asking for it or, to their credit, require this pew legislation. On the other hand, the heavy expenses of litigatiee et the Aseizes will not give the poor deserted woman any, more facilities, for divorce than at present. The Assize Courts will be overloaded and the petitioners in divorce cases will have all the expenses of waiting about and witnesses' costs and cones& which they cannot afford, as in such cases. of deserted. wives from whatever cause they are very badly off and loss of work for even a few days is el great.cousequenee. to them.
The eesential difference between the Anaiwn and COulAY Ccauts is that in the first case they have all the expense and delay of living at the. Aesize towns with their solicitors teed the witnesses, whilst in the other ease the County Court Judge conies practically to their own door at the nearest market town, and they can live at home till their case can be heard. There are two other points which in my opinion have been overlooked in the proposed legislation; surely. judicial separation is quite unnecessary now that a decree of divorce will be able to be obtained, when it is really just and desirable. And I should like to see all reports of speeches and eviden,ce in the rress prohibited by law, as they de an immeuse amount of harm with their sensational headlines and gross and temunished perjury. Let the names of the petitioeee and respondents and the decision of the Court alone be published, and I venture to think that a good deal of time of the Jedges. aud a great deal of perjury would both be saved; though, perhaps some society and other smart ladies might miss notoriety and being photo-
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