HASTY MARRIAGES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8736, 19 May 1914, Page 5

HASTY MARRIAGES

NEED FOR INQUIRY CONCERNING HABITS OF THE PARTIES, Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 18, Tiio disastrous results of youthful and hasty marriages were strongly commented upon by Mr Justice Cooper in tho Supremo Court this morning in tho course of a case, expressing the hope that his words might have a warning ' effect. His Honour pointed out that iiis experience had shown that marriages were often entered into without those inquiries which ordinarily would be mail© if, an employee were being engaged. In thm ease the woman’s life had been practically spoiled, the husband's drunken career ccmmoncmg from the day of the marriage. The case was a most unhappy ono! A girl of only nineteen had married a young man who must Itave been, according to the evidence, given to excessive drinking before the marriage. Accepting the evidence of the girl and the mother that they were 'unaware of this and that the marriage would not have taken place had they possessed this knowledge, the case showed that there ought to bo some system by which, before a marriage actually took place, some inquiry should bo made,. if not by parties themselves, by the person officiating at the marriage, as to the character and habits of tho parties who presented themselves for marriage.