MARRIAGE LAW BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 101, 30 March 1925, Page 5

MARRIAGE LAW BILL.

SYDNEY, March 29.

After the Premier had conferred with Mr John Ley (Minister of Justice), and Sir Joseph leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, the Premier, Sir George Fuller, announced that the Government had decided to accept the Council’s amendment to die Marriage Law Amendment Bill. The Government leaders regard the amendment as non-vital and claim a victory in securing the passago of the measurs through the Council without material amendment. When the Assembly meets on Tuesday, Mr Ley will move that the bill be passed.—Press Association.

ARCHBISHOPS' COMMENTS. Received March 30, 10.45 a.m. J.YDNEY. March 30. Referring to tho Ne Teme’re Bill, Archbishop Kelly said: “No baptised Catholic can validly contract marriage unless he does ao in the presence of a pastor of the Church and two witnesses of the people. This piece of legislation was given to satisfy a certain society or body which would send priests to gaol, and under this new Act one might go to prison. I would go to gaol to-niglit and sleep comfortably,” said Archbishop Kelly. “I congratulate the Legislative Council on the good spirit shown by the non-Catholio men,” Archbishop Wright, in a letter to the Press, approves of tho bill as amended by the Council. He hopes that all parties will accept the new phase and thus avoid needless strife. —Press Association.