THE MARRIED WOMAN'S PROPERTY PROTECTION BILL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1478, 23 June 1881, Page 2

THE MARRIED WOMAN'S PROPERTY PROTECTION BILL.

The Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch Press telegraphs a summary of the Married Woman's Property Protection Bill just introduced into the Legislative Conncil, which will prove interesting to both sexes : The Married Woman's Property Protection Bill, introduced in the Legislative Council by Mr Waterhouse, is just circulated. It proceeds on different lines from the Act passed last session ; that provided mainly for the case of women who are deserted or cruelly treated by their husbands, or whose husbauds are either openly unfaithful or habitual drunkards. The new Bilfurther provides that a married woman may acquire, hold and dispose of property without the intervention of a trustee ; may sue and be sued and be subject to the bankruptcy laws if she carry on a separate trade. A woman married after the passing of the Act may hold as her sepai-ate property any owned by her at the time of her mar Wage or subsequently acquired, and women married before the Act may hold property acquired after the passing of the Act. A husband is not to be liable for his wife'a debts contracted before marriage, except to the extent of the property acquired through her. Disputes between husband and wife as

to property may be summarily settled by a Judge of the Supreme Court. Nothing in the Act is to affect existing matrimonial settlements or the power of making future settlements.