MARRIAGE BILL UNDER CRITICISM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 156, 22 September 1927, Page 11

MARRIAGE BILL UNDER CRITICISM

MR. ISITT’S ATTACK MEASURE BEFORE COUNCIL (THE SUN'S Parlutmenta ry Reporter) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. YI T HEN the Marriage Amend- ** ment Bill came before the Leg slative Council this afternoon, in the committee stage, it was subjected to further strong criticism by the Hon. L. M. Isitt. who again deplored the giving of such responsibillt> as was proposed to “well-meaning but ignorant persons and street-corner bodies.” The 1 till proposes to give religious bodies who have nc recognised priests the power to nommat •* one of theinumber to perform marriages, subject to the appro\ al of the Minister of In ternal Affairs. Mr. Isitt defended himself against any insinuations that he was taking up a bigoted attitude regarding th. measure. The proposal, he said, opened the way to ail sor:s of abuses when any ten members of a musnroom sect could appoint one of their number t.» perform marriages. He had received many telegrams from clergymen and religious bodies, objecting t.' the Rill, and he had asked the Deader of the Council, the ,|st. Koil Sir Francis Bel!, to stay its progress until the churches bad an opportunity to consider it. but Sir Francis had not been able to comply.

How did it get t Trough the Hons asked Mr. Isitt. He had it on good authority that it had been brought before the House when members were absolutely wearied, and anything would have gone through. Surely it was not wise to give such l responsibility to well-meaning but ignorant persons. The organised churches used every precaution to ensure that only properpersons were appointed.

“There have been unmitigated scoundrels in the churches since the time of Judas.” sad Mr. Isitt -and there wi 1 always be, as long as hunu n nature is what it is. Arrhbishop Julius said that he would prefer that the churches should be cut out from all association with marriage altogether, to this.”

The Rt. Hon. Sir Francis Bell: I hops lion, members will not think it necessary to debate this measure to-dav. I do not intend to move the third reading to-day.

The Hon. W. Earnshaw: That's nil very well, and a very nice way of getting this Bill through committee. On e it is through committee, you can talk till the cows come h ime, but you can’t alter the Bill. It is stated that in the first instance, it is for the benefit of the Plymouth Brethren, but I do not think that where one specific body asks for an extension of this sort, it should be made universal. He would move an amendment to confine the provisions of the Bill to the Plymouth Brethren only.

Sir Francis Bell moved to report progress at this stage. The Hon. G. J. Garland: I want to point out that what this Bill propos.-s to carry out is already law. Mr. Isitt: No! It’s entirely different. Mr. Garland: It’s nothing of the kind! That’s only the way you twist it. Progress was reported without further discussion.