Clause 30

It shall be the duty of the court in which a petition for divorce or judicial separation has been instituted to give consideration, from time to time, to the possibility of a reconciliation of the parties to the marriage (unless the proceedings are of such a nature that it would not be appropriate to do so), and if at any time it appears to the Judge constituting the court, either from the nature of the case, the evidence in the proceedings or the attitude of the parties or of either of them that there is a reasonable possibility of such a reconciliation, the Judge may do all or any of the following: —

to adjourn the proceedings to afford the parties the opportunity of being reconciled or to enable anything to be done in accordance with either paragraph (b) or (c) of this subsection;

with the consent of the parties, interview them in Chambers, with or without their solicitors, as the court thinks proper, with a view to effecting a reconciliation; and

nominate a Conciliation Officer to endeavour to effect a reconciliation.(2) If, not less than fourteen days after an adjournment under subsection (1) of this section has taken place, either of the parties to the marriage requests that the hearing be proceeded with, the Judge shall resume the hearing, or arrangements shall be made for the proceedings to be dealt with by another Judge, as the case requires, as soon as practicable.(3) Where a Judge has acted as conciliator under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section but the attempt to effect a reconciliation has failed, the Judge shall not, except at the request of the parties to the proceedings, continue to hear the proceedings, or determine the proceedings, and, in the absence of such a request, arrangements shall be made for the proceedings to be dealt with by another Judge.(4) Evidence of anything said or of any admission made in the course of an endeavour to effect a reconciliation under this section shall not be admissible in any court.”.