The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1894. A BONE OF CONTENTION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1894. A BONE OF CONTENTION.

■ ♦ Wuen the Hod. Mr McGregor intro duced hia Divorce Bill iv the Legis lative Council, and theßecoDd reading was debated, tbe speech of the mover \ was a masterpiece of special pleading, although it contained internal evidence of much study and care in the selection and compilation of the arguments in favor of the Bill. The full text of the speech is reported in Hansard and affords interesting reading. The most noted of tho opponents of the Bill were the Hon. crtir Patrick Buckley, Sir George Whitmore, and Dr. Grace. It appeared to us that the arguments adduced by the last named gentlemen were good, and sufficiently sound to counteract those of the Hoo, Mr McGregor but the latter had a majority in bis favor, and, as our readers are already aware, the motion was carried and the Bill was read a second time. During the debate a statement was made to the effect that the measure was in advance of public opinion, aud therefore unnecessary. In proof of tho correctness of that view we notice that the clergymen of the vanous religious denominations iv the colony have commenced an active opposition to the Bill and all its clauses ; the movement was initiated in Dunedin ; and now tho ladies of Auckland as represented by the Women's Political League in that beautiful city, bave taken up the cudgels in favor of the Bill «*« and all that therein is " so we may confidently expect that tho contest between the two will be buth lively and interesting. We are not inclined to think that any good will come out of tbis mode of dealing with a question which is of such vital importance to husbands and wives in esse or iti ])oss<-. It would be far better to discuss the Bill on its merits calmly and without prejudice, instead of people making up tbeir minis to fight for or against it before they have read or heard iead a solitary clause of tbe Bill. The married 6tate involves so much that is closely connected with religion and > morality that the more its sacred character i.s preserved inviolate the better for the nation. We have read the Bill and certainly think that as it incorporates much of the American laws relating to luarriage and divorce, New Zealand can do without it for many years to come. We also exceedingly regret that such a bone of contention has been thrown down for the clergy and the mem lert; of the fair sex to quarrel over.