EASY MARRIAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22391, 11 April 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

EASY MARRIAGE

LAW IN SCOTLAND REPROACH TO NATION GRETNA'S "SPURIOUS ROMANCE" Evils stated to result from irregular marriages came under consideration last month when the Government Committee of Inquiry into the marriage law of Scotland continued its proceedings in Edinburgh. The committee was appointed by Sir Godfrey Collins, Secretary for Scotland, arising out of irregular marriages at Gretna Groen. A memorandum prepared by a committee of the Church of Scotland and presented at tho inquiry stated: — "Irregular marriages, as at present existing, are fraught with many great evils, and ought to be so modified and governed as to be no longer a reproach to the nation.

"The evils resulting to-day from these marriages are numerous. In particular, the spurious romance attached to Gretna Green has caused a peculiar form of scandal there." Statistics in the memorandum showed that in 1868 there were less than 1 per cent, of irregular marriages, whereas in 1933 there were 12 per cent. "Nose" For a Wedding

The Rev. Dr. J. Hutcheson Cockburn, of Dunblano Cathedral, explaining why people went into irregular marriages, remarked: "Tt is sometimes possible to marry people quietly in church or manse, hut the public have a nose tor a marriage like a vulture For carrion, and, as soon as they see n car drive up to the door, they begin to gather round." He added that from the financial point of view an irregular marriage was much more expensive, usually in volving an expense of two guineas. Asked what induced people to go into irregular marriages. Dr. Cockburn replied it was a certain shyness of people to get married in church. "They think." ho explained, "that it means a certain amount of ceremonial. They forget that it is inexpensive, and also that a marriage is an affair in which the public is interested." Bailie Jean Mann, of Glasgow, suggested there was an idea prevalent H':>t marriage in a church was the monopoly of tho well-to-do, but Dr. Cockburn denied this.

Attitude of Church Mr. C. B. Rooke, a London solicitor, declared that the majority of English people who availed themselves of the outlet which irregular marriages in Scotland allowed wore contracting forced marriages. The churches submitted that if the system of irregular marriages was to be allowed at all the law should be so amended as to make such marriage* vali<2 only where both parties resided in Scotland, or if thev had lived in Scotland for 21 days before the marriage. Mr. Rooke spoke of the danger of English minors contracting runaway marriages in Scotland, and suggested that a suitable amendment to the law would afford protection to English parents and English subjects. Lord Morison: Scots law makes marriage easy because Scotland favours marriage.

Lord Rowallan observed that if consent to marriage was withheld by parents couples had "the safety valve of coming to Scotland to get married." Mr. Rooke: I do not think such a safety valve is necessary.