THE DECEASED "WIFE'S SISTER BILL

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 111, 11 May 1889, Page 2

THE DECEASED "WIFE'S SISTER BILL

The rejection of the Deceased Wife's Siste Bill by the House of Lords has now becom an annual event, but it ia none the less to b regretto <L The colonies have a deep interes in this legislation, because most of ther have passed the measure in adranoe of th Mother Country, whioh, however, treats th marriages contracted under the local law a it treats the colonial title of Honourableentitled to no recognition or currency ii England. Those who are married undo: laws passed in the name of Hor Majesty tbi Queen are treated as living in adultery, i not worse, when they reach England, anc the children of such marriages are ineapabli of inheriting' property, and are regarded as illegitimate. It seems almost incredible thai such a state of things could long be per mitted to continuo in an Empire which aim* at Federation. The colonies feel bitterlj the wrong inflicted on them in this mosi tender and delicate matter. Public opinioi in Kngland is undoubtedly in favour oi affording redress, and legalising such alii ances, as is shown by the repeated passage of the Bill in the House of Commons. Th< experience of the colonies has conolusivelj established the utter unsoundness of the sentimental and social objections whioh have so long been urged against it by its opponents; while the religions objections are simply ridiculously untenable. Yet thej form the chief barrier to the passage of the Bill in the House of Lords, where the votes and influence of the Bench of Bishops are used against it. We are glad to notice that His Boyal Highness the Prince of Wales, as on former occasions, voted for the Bill. The House of Lords will, of course, in the end have to give way, despite the bishops, and the sooner it does so the better. The Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, cannot be permitted to stand permanently in the way of to great and desirable a social reform as the legalisation throughout the Empire, of marriage with a deceased wife's Bister.