MARRIAGE LAW OF SCOTLAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 303, 20 November 1935, Page 14

MARRIAGE LAW OF SCOTLAND.

GRETNA GREEN “DANGER.”

Sir Godfrey Collins, Secretary of State for Scotland, recently announced that he proposed to appoint a special committee to inquire into the marriage Jaw of Scotland with a view to ascertaining what changes, if any, were desirable. The announcement was made to a deputation from the Church and Nation Committee of the Church of Scotland, led by Rev.' Dr Chisholm, of Langside, Glasgow. The deputation pointed out that the Church had long felt concerned at the large number of irregular marriages in Scotland, and in particular at the sean- - dal' of clandestine marriages at Gretna • Green. In the opinion of the Church the existence of this form of marriage : was a serious social danger in Scotland. Irregular marriages were often j hasty and ill-considered, and they gave I unlimited scope for deception and imposition. Many 'of them were invalid . because the parties had not complied with the conditions in regard to resi- ■ deuce. As the maojrity were never registered, and so were frequently incapable of proof in later years, they gave rise to endlecs possibilities of human suffering. Sir Godfrey Collins, in reply, said that for a considerable time he had been considering, in consultation with hi,s advisers, whether the present marriage law in Scotland did not require amendment. Eighty years ago the Marriage (Scotland) Act, 1856. made provision for the system of irregular I marriages which was in foroe in ScotI land to-day. He himself could express Ino opinion on the present law. but it 'was necessary to face up to the question whether the marriage law of Scotland was in keeping with the I times.