§ Mr. Goldieasked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the practice of entering undefended divorce cases at assize towns rather than in London; and whether he will, in the public interest, cause the rules of the Divorce Division to be amended, so that no such undefended case, other than a poor persons case, shall be entered at an assize town unless the petitioner or respondent has a permanent place of residence within the county in respect of which such assizes are to be held?
§ The Attorney-GeneralTo restrict the entry of Divorce Causes at Assizes as suggested by my hon. and learned Friend might cause hardship to parties and inconvenience to witnesses where the Petitioner, though not a poor person, is of small means. By the Administration of Justice Act, 1920, and Statutory Orders,2092W any undefended matrimonial cause may be tried at any of the Assize Towns prescribed for the trial of such causes. By the Rules of the Supreme Court the place of hearing is to be determined by a Registrar of the Principal Probate Registry upon consideration of the Petition and of any information in relation to residence convenience and expense of the parties and witnesses which he may require. It is the invariable practice to require the facts as to the residence of the parties and witnesses to be set forth in an affidavit.