No Hasty Marriages

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13949, 30 July 1918, Page 6

No Hasty Marriages

There were references in the cables some time ago to a complaint by a British member of Parliament that parents of girls desirous of contracting marriages with New Zealand soldiers could not obtain information as to the marital state and character of the prospective bridegrooms. The correctness of this allegation was officially denied a few days later. Now it appears from an order issued by Brigadier-General Richardson (Commanding N.Z.E.E., England), very stringent regulations arc in operation to guard against un • desirable and bigamous marriages. AU officers and other ranks of the N.Z.E.F. desirous of marrying in the United Kingdom must obtain permissiej: from Headquarters, N.Z.E.F., Lond'Vx cers commanding units are ..ALiteCtod to interview applicants for sion, and satisfy themsc • y that the soldier is legally free v.’aiirast a marriage; (b) that ho rec.Lvtv the difficulties of obtaining a passu*y? for his wife to Now Zealand; (c) that Le can produce a genuine certificate of tno character of the person he wishes to marry from a clergyman, magistrate, or leading local resident; (d) that he is not contracting a hasty or undesirable marriage. A certificate of the soldier’s marital condition is required, and also the consent of the present allottee of the soldier’s pay to its variance in favour of Mg future wife. In short, it 'appears that the marriage of a soldier who carries through the application till the ceremony can be performed will at least not bo hasty.