MARRIAGE AGE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1933, Page 6

MARRIAGE AGE

PROPOSED RAISING FOR GIRL. CHRISTCHURCH} September 12. \ ' The statment that- his department was already - investigating the raising of thepresent- minimum legal marriage age for girls of 12 years, was made by the Alin is ter for »Heal.th, the Hon. J. A. Young, in reply to a question after his 1 speech at Sumner last evening.

A questioner asked the Minister .'if he would: sponsor a move, to have the marriage age raised. He said the ■question had bedn raised several times during the Lyttelton by-election campaign, and it had been stated that the present age was 12 years. It was considered that this should be raised to at least 14 years. New Zealand lagged behind Great Britain in this respect, for the marriage age there was 16 years.

The Minister.- said the question- was one of vital importance. No sentiment could be allowed to enter into it if and when it came to be considered as a matter; of. .public policy;" He had been Aliiiister for Health between 1926 .and 1929, and since 1931, but he did not remember that there had been any widespread- demand for the rais-; ing of the marriage age. Had there been, he probably would have heard of it .as Alinister for Health. Yerv many more questions entered into the-raising of the marriage- age than appeared on the surface. There was a danger that the situation would become -very much more complicated hv altering the daw. However, if there , was'a demand for a change, he knew the question would be thoroughly investigated before legislation was introduced. He conkl -say that his department was already investigating the present position*