MARRIAGE BILL

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 March 1925, Page 5

MARRIAGE BILL

l.'t . ANGLICAN BISHOPS OPPOSE. \ " i: . ■ - DISORDER IN ASSEMBLY. i(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, March 24. A special session of Parliament for ! the'passage* of the Ne Temere Marriage Bill was opened by a Commission in .the absence;of the Governor. ■ to 1 I,The Labour Leader, Mr Lang, decided not to move any motion of ceh J sure, as the Labour Party had first intended. Protests by certain AnglicanBishops against the Bill are putting a ; different aspect on the measure, so far as it affects; election possibilities. ' If the protests to the Bill had been confined to the Roman Catholic section 1 of the community, Mr Lang would have inoved his motion, but he believes now that if the Bill is again rejected by the Legislative Council, the swing..oyer,of Protestant • Votes at the election will be. the reverse O; what, the-Government anticipated, and that,' in addition,Labour will have the. advantage,bf a bldck vote from all adherents of the Roman Catholic Church.,, i > i

LATER. In the Assembly, there ' was a crowded house and galleries, ,;.when Mr Ley moved a> motion. to . suspend the standing orders to enable a bill to amend the marriage laws to be passed' at one sitting. He stated that the bill was designed to counter the Ne Temere decree, and make it an 'offence for anyone to impugn the marriage tie, ox question /the legitimacy of children of parents married according to law. There was no dissent to the motion, but Mr Lang asked df the Government were prepared to accept an amendment io the vital clause, stating that Labour- was. just as . anxious: to prevent the impugning of the marriage tie as the Government was. Mr Ley replied that Mi- Lartg would have the opportunity of giving an, amendment at the proper time. Mr Ley then proceeded to move the second reading of the bill. He dealt with the protests received from certain Anglican bisjiops, ,and while doing so, w r aii subject to much interruption. He said that he had. received a deputation representing the Church of England League _.,vouncii. approving of the bilLias-it- stood-; and stating ~,thqt ithe-7 jijiiiQtest did not-reflect the feeling; of (the Anglican Church..; .1.0 fr'.-iito. heMr Ley added, amid great disorder, that tile, bill was not The product of fanatiics, but was merely designed to prevent , the d.estruqtibn .pf homes of people, by persons authorised by law to conduct marriages. .—n 1 !' 1 ' to": ■ ! SECOND READING CARRIED. ..m-L SYDNEY/March >25.

The'second readinsAo/ jhe (Ne-Tyniere Bill was carried by 47 voi'es to, 31;-;'The Assembly then adjourned,itilh to-day; ff