NATIONALITY BY MARRIAGE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24986, 21 September 1946, Page 2

NATIONALITY BY MARRIAGE

N.Z. WOMEN AND ALIENS STATUS DEFINED BY BILL (P.A.) WELLINGTON. September 20. The right of a British woman on marriage to a foreigner to retain her British nationality and. of a foreign woman on marriage to a British subject to apply for British nationality is preserved by the British Nationality and Status of Aliens (in New Zealand) Amendment Bill, which was introduced and read a first time in the Ilcuse .of Representatives this afternoon. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) explained that this auestion arose during discussions at le recent meeting of Prime Ministers in London and was subsequently considered by officials of various Commonwealth delegations. The concensus of opinion then was that the national status of women should not be affected by the act of marriage; it was therefore, agreed that legislation along the following lines would be desirable: (a) that British women on marriage to a foreigner, whether -she does or does not acquire his nationality under the law of his. country, shall not lose her British nationality unless she take some overt steps to renounce it; (b) that a foreign' woman, on marriage to a British subject, shall not thereby acquire British nationality, but shall have the right to apply for 'it. and that,. if she applies, the granting or withholding of British nationality shall, be within the discretion of the Minister. Mr Parry said the bill was intended to give effect to these recommendations in so far as New Zealand Was concerned.