Opposition to mayors

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 13

Opposition to mayors

Mayors had enough work to do without being asked to perform marriage ceremonies, said a Justice of the Peace and marriage

celebrant, Mr B. N. Mason, in Christchurch. He was commenting on a suggestion by the Auckland Local Bodies’ Association that mayors be able to perform marriage ceremonies. Mr Mason said he believed that the service conducted by Justices of the Peace had not become less significant, or watered down events. . Justices of the Peace provided a service for those who felt uncomfortable, or hypocritical, in a church and for those remarrying. Many Justices of the Peace put in a lot of time and effort helping couples work out their vows. Justices of the Peace were not automatically made marriage celebrants. Giving mayors the right to perform marriage ceremonies would merely duplicate available services, Mr Mason said.

“Mayors are elected to do other things in the community, such as keeping down our rates,” he said. He believed many Justices of the Peace felt insulted by the ■ sweeping generalisations made about their role in performing marriage ceremonies. Justices of the Peace were community leaders and were recognised as such by the people. were appointed by the Government, having been vetted by the Justice and Police departments. “Any Tom, Dick, or Harry can stand for any local post and suck the electors in,” Mr Mason said. Mr Mason said that he had written to the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay) outlining his reasons why mayors should not be given the right to perform marriage ceremonies.