MARRIAGE SEASON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23687, 20 December 1938, Page 9

MARRIAGE SEASON

MANY CHRISTMAS WEDDINGS NEAR LAST YEAR'S RECORD BUSY TIME FOR MINISTERS Christmas weddings last year established a record for Dunedin, and there is plenty of evidence that the number of marriages celebrated during the next few days will be little if anything below last year's total. The Registrar of Births. Deaths, and Marriages (Mr A. A. Besley), told a Daily Times reporter yesterday that last year there were 163 marriages celebrated in December, and up to yesterday authority had been granted for 94 weddings. Considering that the comparable figure at December 19 last year was 90, there appears to be a good chance that the total for December this year will be well up towards last year'-, figure. Few marriages take place in the Registry Office. Mr Besley said yesterday that the average wa? not more than about 12 a month, and that the total ,foi this year so far would not be more than about 100. Young people were' naturally predominant among those getting married, and by far the greater number of those applying for licences were bstween the ages of 21 and 30. Since the ceremony in the Registry Office is not so popular i Dunedin, the Christma. wedding season naturally means an extremely busy time for ministers. The Rev. W. Allen Stevely, of First Church, who said his experience was no doubt typical of that of other ministers, told a Daily Times reporter that the number of marriages that could be performed at the present time was limited only by thv, restriction of the time for these ceremonier from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. In Australia, he said, it was possible to perform marriages for the rounds of the clock, but owing to the restriction, that could not be done in New Zealand. The real Christmas rush in the marriage market started last evening, Mr Stevely said, and marrying would be going on at high pressure right up to Christmas Eve, and possibly further into the holiday season. So far the number of church marriages had been well up to that of last year, and, indeed, of any normally prosperous times, and there was every indication that the customary figures would be well maintained.