THE MARRIAGE ACT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 303, 16 September 1920, Page 4

THE MARRIAGE ACT

ATTITUDE OF JEWISH COMMUNITY

"LAW OF THE COUNTRY COMES FIRST"

Inquiry was made of the Jewish Dabbi (Row 11. Van Stavoren) yesterday, as to whether the Hebrew doctrine regarding marriage. was affected by tho proposed amendment to the Marriage Act, and whether he proposed to make any pronouncement on the subject. "Wherever we are wo acknowledge the laws of tho land that gives ua shelter," said Mr. Van Stavereu, "and I don't propose to make any statement. The law of the land of our adoption is our law. Our law distinctly says that tho law of the country is our law. and comes first. We have nothing to say abwt the proposed amendment to the Marriage Aot, We must abido by tho laws of the country in which we live-religion is a secondary consideration." MORE EVIDeWmAY BE TAKEN A SUGGEST [ON IN THE HOUSE. A suggestion, that tho Marriage Amendment Bill, containing (he new clause inserted by the legislative Council, should be referred to a commit'iee of the House of Representatives in order that evidence might be taken upon it, was made in. the House of Representatives by the Leader of tho Opposi-.l'bn (Mr. T. M. Wilford). A committee of the Legislative Council, said Mr. Wilford, had heard evidence for and against certain propositions. Then lie Council had amended the Bill to a certain direction, and now tho House would be asked oi'3ier to accept the amendment or disagree wit.li it. He was speaking for his party, which had considered tho matter, in suggesting that a committee of tho House shohild now hear evidence for and against the new clause, so ilhat the members of the Honsp might know the arguments on either side. The _ new clause, which affected certain, marriages, had not yet been considered either by the House or by any commit'iee' of the House. If the Bill were now referred to a committee, the people who wished to be heard would have' an opportunity to iriv-o their evidence on the very important points that had been raifeed. Minister renlied that he had already had' under consideration the idea of referring the new clause of the Bill to a committee of the House. Thfl position at present! was that work was very heavy and all the committees were fully engaged. But some of them would have tftae to spare two or thrp* weeks hence. There was a Possibility of the Bill bein? referred to 'ihe SlatntPs Bcvinon Committee, but he had not looked into the matter yet. The Bill probably would not come before the House again for two or three weeks, and" in the meantime he would consult the Minis'hr of .Tusß-e. and deride whether it..was desirable that tho Bill should be referred to a committee.

Mr. Wilford misruled that the Statufes Revision Commi-tltee would not ba tlio best committee to deal with the Bill. It consisted of lawyers and its specM dnty was ib see that legislation was drafted in nroner form. He thought that a more suitable committlee could he .found to consider the Bill and hear the evidence of tho people who were affected by it.

At a meeting of St. Joseph's Parish' Ccmmitteo of the Catholic Federation, it was unanimously resolved: "That we wish to place on record our high apnreeiation of tho firm stand taken by His Grace Archbishop O'Shea towards the proposed amendment to tho Marriage Act, and we beg to assure His Grace cf our absoluteloyalty to him in whatever action he considers necessary in this matter."