MARRIAGE LAW.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1920, Page 5

MARRIAGE LAW.

ACTION OF PARLIAMENT. COMMITTEE TO TAKE EVIDENCE. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. A suggestion that the Marriage Amendment Bill containing the new clause inserted by the Legislative Council should be referred to a committee of the House of Representatives in order that evidence might be taken upon it, was made in the Houpe of Representatives by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford). A committee of the Legislative Council, said Mr. Wilford, had heard evidence for and against certain propositions. Then the Council had amended the Bill in a certain direction, and now the House would be' asked either to accept the amendment or disagree with it. He was speaking for his Party, which had considered the matter, in suggesting that a committee of the House should now hear evidence for and against the new clause, so that the members of the House might know the arguments on either side. The new clause, which affected certain marriages, had not been considered either by the House or by any Committee of the House. If the Bill' were now referred to a committee the people who wished to be heard would have an opportunity to give their evidence on the very important points that had been raised. The Prime Minister replied that he had already had under consideration the idea of referring the new clause of the Bill to a committee of the House. The position at present was that committee work was»very heavy, and all the committees were fully engaged, but some of them would have time to spare two or three weeks hence. There was a possibility of the Bill being referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, but he had not looked into the matter yet. The Bill probably would not come before the House again for two or three weeks, and iu the meantime he would consult the Minister for Justice and decide whether it was desirable that the Bill should be referred fco a committee. Mr. Wilford suggested that the Statutes Revision Committee would not be the best committee to deal with the Bill. It consisted of lawyers, and its special duty was to see that legislation was drafted in proper form. He thought that a more suitable committee could he found to consider the Bill and hear the evidence of the people who were affected by it. t PRESBYTERIANS APPROVE AMENDMENTS. By Telegraph.—Pres9 Association. Wellington, Sept. 15. . A resolution was moved at a meeting of the Wellington Presbytery to put on record hearty approval of the proposed amendment of the Marriage Act, and hoping that it would be passed without alteration. Some doubt was expressed as to the exact meaning of the clause, and a certain amount of opposition was offered. Mr. Comria said that the Roman Catholic Church should not have the right to impugn the validity of marriage but he wanted to be sure of the real interpretation of the clause. Ultimately a committee was appointed to obtain further information, and the matter was adjourned.