PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, FL.W IN MARRIAGE ACT. By Telejraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 230 p.m. The Imprest Supply Bill (No. 2) was received from the House and put through all stages and passed. The Statutes Revision Committee reported the Marriage Amendment Bill with minor amendments. Sir Francis Bell moved that it be referred back. His reason for doing go was that evidence was laid before the committee, which suggested that one denomination'in the country declared publicly by official documents that marriages contracted and perforr.fd according to the law of the land were invalid. It was further stated that parties Were required to go through a second form of marriage, and that at this second marriage they were described as bachelor and spinater. He said, as a member of the Government, that if this wag found to be the practice, in New Zealand, and that children of an existing marriage lawfully celebrated were bastardised, either directly or by inference, it would rest upon the Government to see that this state of things did not continue. He nntfe this statement publicly, so that those concerned might come before the committee and state their side of the case. The Bill was referred back. The Council rose at 3.20 p.m.