The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1896.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 38, 13 August 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1896.

[ HOME LEGISLATION. After many years arduous struggle the Deceased Wife's Sister's Bill has at last been passed by the House of Lords. The history of the movement ia interesting. In 1847 a Royal r'ommission was appointed to examine the marriage laws and from 1849 up to a few days ago, a period of nearly fifty years, attempts have been made, both in the Lords and Comnsons to carry the Bill, but they have always failed. As a rule, especially from 1875 to : 1893, the Commons carried the Bill by j a large majority, but it was, also a rule, thrown out on each occasion by the House of Lords. A like fate befell the Colonial Bill to make marriages of this class, legally contracted in the colonies, legal in England, and the Scotch Bill having a similar object, though there were not wanting high authorities who pronounced such marriages legal in Scotla»d even then, without any special permissive legislation. Marriage with a deceased I wife's sister had previously been specially legalised under the sanction of: the Crown in the Australian and other English colonies, including New Zealand. It may be added that these marriages throughout India are universally legal among all sects and creeds, except European-Protestants. The majority in the House of Lords was only 29 (142 to 113) but aa a majority in the Commons are pledged to vote for the measure it may be assumed that this long- vexed question is settled at last.