"WANTED A WIFE!"

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 569, 26 July 1909, Page 8

"WANTED A WIFE!"

ABOUT MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENTS. SOMR liVrERE&TJNG OPINIONS (By Tclcfraph-Spccial Oorrcipaudont.) Auckland, July 24. The sensational statement b> Mr. Rule nt Christcliurch in regard to the churiicter of men advertising foi wives led to an Auckland picssman making so-ne inquiries as to how those statements would apph to this city. The result'was on tho whole fairly comforting.

The superintendent of tho Door of Hope, Mrs. Hutchison, spoke warmly in support of Mr. Rule's remarks, "Advertisements of the kind," she declared, '.'might easily lead simple girls into the arms of wicked.and unscrupulous men. I havo known cases where marriages have taken place after tho man and woman have been brought together by advertisement, and I do not know of a singlo instance! .in which' those marriages have proved successful In two cases I havo known tho unhappy wives to bo deserted. Of the actual duping of women by. this means I have not heard of any case in Auckland, but in the big cities of Australia there have been instances of the kind.. A man who is vicious enough to do what has been done in Christcliurch would keep on committing the same'grievous wrong like the.burglar or the forger, whom the police know will never adopt any but their own special branch of crime.. With such men as these it becomes a mania, and frequently whan I have ; seen the .advertisements I have felt'inclined to wrife and warn those .who might be tempted to trust themselves with ,men they havo never .previously, known, , and'whoso intentions may not'bo honourable towards them." , Adjutant. Gunn, of tho Salvation Army, ■stated that during his. experience in Auckland he had never come across a case similar to those referred to by Mr; Rule, and ho was to think that the Christcliurch missioner had been exaggeratinga little ■ when he stated that- a considerable number of Women were-,'now bearing: the brand of. 'shame as a result of one mail's advertising for a wife. :'The adjutant considered, however,- that, there '■ was .a certain, clement of danger about, this method of -seeking, a-hu'B- ' band, on the part of women who answered the ■ advertisements. ■•'-■■ ~'-' '■■

■ Adjutant Tillett, of. the Salvation, Army Rescue Home, Parnell, stated that only one case of a marriage which had been the outcome of, the matiatnonial advertisement was known to .her. ; In 'that instance, the marriage, had boon.' a hopeless failure, and for eleven years • the man and'' woman had been compelled to live apart,; the man during that time paying..regularly for .tho woman's support. .... . ' '.. ■ : • ... ..-....• . •

.The Rev..:W. Q Tay Dison, when inter- 1 viewed, smilingly -remarkfcd' that' the people or ins congregation'were so omineritly respectable that the possibility of such, things had never .been thought of. 'Speaking, seriously, however,, tho minister ;of St. David's said Mat it could ■ not be considered surprisin" that such a revelation had ,, been' made. One would naturally expect people to bo suspicious about matrimonial advertisements—suspicious of the man who advertised, and suspicious' of the woman; who answered the, advertisement. Some people were eccentric arid peculiar .and possibly the shyness of somo nien.. led • then;' to in' all sincerity advertise, but the principle he regarded as a bad one, and though-he had never heard a case in Auckland similar to those in '■ Christcliurch, he -thought no ■ harm, could result froni trying "to put people-on their guard against possible deception. Mr. Rule, Mr. Gray added,, was some time ago an assistant of his,' and had charge of Edendale.■'•■'■■" '' The Rev. J, Wilson,' of the Auckland Central Mission, said he had not experienced 'anything so deplorable' in Auckland as 'MV. Rule had unearthed; in Christchurch, but he felt that it was a most undesirable thing that men,,.and women should ' meet and .niarry without any actual knowledge of ono another. ' My experience.;• in -th'e; big ;cities'of Australia makes.me believethat Mr.' Rule is on the right, track," said Mr. Wilson, "but; bad as.tho matrimonial advertisement may be we have reason to be thankful that we have no matrimonial bureaux .in New ZeaJand like theyhave in Sydney'and, Melbourne. There' they will marry.you, provide the ring, and find.'witnessesj-all for 10s.'6d. My experienco of the patrimonial bureau was that it was a most unmitigated evil.' A woman could drag a man off the street in; a'state of inebriation into one' of these -places, :and.the man would sober up.to find himself confronted;with a, wife who would wave,in his face a duly-wit-nessed marriage; certificate." It- is' gratifying to' find that the -Victorian . Parliament is at last, taking steps to bring in special legislation to deal with these bureaux." -.

A police official tb whom the.subject was referred said:,',' Bad as ttie matrimonial advertisement is, thefacilities that are given under New. Zealand.law for the licensing of persons t<), perform marriages are a much more prolific source-of trouble; to the police. A man can come to New Zealand; and no matter .what his past- record may ;havo been he.can become a legalised clergyman,if he finds a .dozen,', followers who will swallow liis beliefs and accept him as their high priest." The marriage- law upon this question shows how easy .it is for any. person desiring to become a "reverend" clothed with tho legal power to perform marriages to get a license. Section,lo of the Marriage Act reads: '.'Any minister of religion' not connected with' any of"'tho bodies. enumerated'.in' the third schedule ; (giving the recognised ; religious bodies),; who .furnishes :to -, the RegistrarGeneral,a certificate signed by ;the.recognised head in New Zealand of the religious body to which he belongs,' , or by two duly recognised', ministers of ; such bodies, or by ten adult members'thereof who append-to their signatures their description as, being such members declaring such minister as their officiating,minister,-shall be entitled to have his. name inserted in , the list of. officiating ■ministers within the meaning of the. Act." The result is that persons may obtain authoto perform-marriages who never .ought to be entrusted; with such an important pri.vilege. ;.■.'■' ..'-... ■ .