DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 87, 25 June 1880, Page 2

DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER BILL.

+ The above BiU has passed the "Legislative Council by a majority of four votes, the numbors being — For the Bill, 10 ; against, 12. The "gravo and revorend seigniors" who compose the Legislative Council actually cheered when tin; result of the divi«io> \Vi\a made known. Amid much laughter, so we are told by the Wellington papers, the Hon. Mr Peter gave notice that ho wnuM introduce a " Deceased Husband's Brother .Marriage Bill " We certainly do not see any very grout cause for laughter in tilts. The Council ha<» adopted the principle that affinity is no b=»r to marriage, an') if it is right for a man to marry his deceased wife's sister, it ia right for a won<ai) to marry her deceased husband's brother, <tnd our legislators will make themselves took supremely ridiculous if they legalise the one nnd not the other. Oi course it is argued that mairiage with a deceased wife's sister should be legalised bacnuri" the aiater would be 'he best one to tako chargj of the children in caso of the death of the mother. Well, ''what is suuco for the goose is also sauce for the gander," so we would say marriage with a deceased husband's brother should be allowed, because in case of the father's death thn uncle would ba rheb j stone to look after Jiw brother's ouildr^u ! As v xna' U>r of fno;, the country does not want either the " sister " or the " brother " legislated for. No section of tbe community has agitated for tho change, which ia simply a " fad " of a few orotohetty individuals. If wo musr have it on our statute books, let the prin ciple be carried out to its legitimate extent, and applied to men as well as to women. It is casting a slur on the women of New Zealand to make marriage laws which apply only to them, and do not embrace the men also. Wo repeat that we see no cause for laughter in Mr Peter's notice to introduce tho Deoeased Hnsband's Brother Marriage Bill, which is but the complement of the Bill which passed the second reading in the Council amidst " loud oheers " on Tuesday last.