MARRIAGE LAWS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2175, 11 September 1920, Page 3

MARRIAGE LAWS

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OE THE STATUTE. Subsequent to hearing evidence on the above subject, the Select Committee appointed by the Government held a. meeting, and the minutes show that the following resolution was passed : —■ “(1). That it is desirable that a clause should be inserted in the .Marriage Amendment Bill providing that it be an offence against the law for any person, by words published, or written, or spoken, to deny or impugn, otherwise than by proceedings in a Court of law, the validity of a marriage celebrated in accordance with the law of New Zealand, or with the law of Scotland, or Ireland, or o("any of the possessions of His Majesty, or in any manner to deny or impugn, otherwise limn by proceedings in a Court of law, the legitimacy of the issue of any such, marriage; (2) that it be referred to the Attorney-General to have a. clause drafted accordingly, for the consideration of the Committee.”

Meeting subsequently, Ihe Committee decided that the "new (danse be added to the Bill, and that a report to the Council he made in accordance with the resolution. THE NEW CLAUSE.

When the matter came before tha Legislative Council on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Committee reported the Bill with amendments, and on his motion the evidence was laid on the table and ordered to he printed.

The clause proposed to he added to the Bill by the Statutes Revision Committee is as follows: —

(1) Every p, arson commits an offence against Ibis Act, and is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for one year or a line of £IOO. who —(a) Alleges, expressly or by implication, that any persons lawfully married are not truly and sullieiently married; or (2) alleges, expressly or by implication, that the issue of any lawful marriage is illegitimate or born out. of true wedlock.

(2). “Alleges” in this section means making any verbal statement, or publishing or issuing any printed or written statement, or in any manner authorising the making of any verbal statement, or in any manner authorising or being party to the political ion or issue of an\ printed or written statement.

fo). A person shall not be deemed io make an allegation contrary to the provisions of ibis section by reason only of using in flic solemnisation of a marriage a form of marriage sendee which at the commencement of this Am was in use by the religions denomination to which siudi person belongs, or by reason only of the printing or issue of any book containing a copy id a lona of marriage service in use at Ibe eomineneemenl of ibis Act by any religions denomination. THKOI.TUI COFXCIL WITIIOFT DISCUSSION'. The Marriage Amendment Bill, including the new clauses added by the Statutes Revision Committee, passed through all remaining stages without dismission, on Thursday. The Bill had previously been read u second lime pro forma, and was on the order paper for committal. Before moving the committal of the Bill, Sir Francis Bell said (hat, tho Bill had been read a second time' pro forma. The matter had been lliorougbly before the Council, and he did not think it necessary to do more than move the committal of the Bill. The Bill went through committee without dismission. Sir Francis Bell moved the I bird reading. He said the amendment* were those which had been put: in by the Statutes Revision Committee. They had been before members of the Council.