THE DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER MARRIGE BILL.

Evening Star, Issue 3305, 23 September 1873, Page 3

THE DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER MARRIGE BILL.

People who want to marry the sisters of their deceased wives will have to wait a little lunger. Although the House of Representatives has three times passed tbe Bill legalising unions of this nature, the Council has again disregarded the expression of public opinion, and rejected the Bill by 15 to 8. It seems to have done this without any reason, for that term very inaptly applies to any of the objections put forward in the Council. One sapient individual seemed to think that the fact of a very bad Pope having some centuries ago sanctioned marriages of this kind was a valid reason why the Legislative Council of New Zealand should refuse to countenance such a thing. Another gentleman thought the opportunity a good one to indulge in the luxury of sentiment at the sacrifice of common sense, and having some hazy recollections of the morality inculcated in his youth by Watt’s hymns, he voted against the Bill. Another, shutting his eyes to the action of New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania voted against the Bill out of a desire to preserve what no longer exists—uniformity in the marriage laws of the Empire. Another justified his vote by the assertion that the Bill would rudely shock the moral susceptibilities of Scotchmen, A curious commentary on the existing state of the law was afforded by the fact that one of the members of the Council, Mr Wi Tako, rose and informed his fellow houorables that he could from experience speak of tho advantages derivable from marriage with a deceased wife’s sister, as he had himself contracted such a marriage, and with the happiest results, especially in regard to the children of the first marriage. Yet, with this practical testimony in favor of the Bill, the Council rejejts it.