MARRIAGE LAW AMENDMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1929, Page 13

MARRIAGE LAW AMENDMENT

“THE DECEASED WIFE’S SISTER.” UPPER HOUSE PASSES MEASURE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The second reading of the Marriage Amendment Bill, introduced in the House by Mr. H. G. R. Mason, was moved formally in the Legislative Council to-day by the Hon. J. B. Gow. Sir Francis Bell objected to the principle contained in the measure and declared the Council had previously rejected the Bill. Whatever might be the principle of permission to marry a deceased’s w’ife’s sister it did not apply to the case of marrying the child of a deceased wife’s sister, because the child in innumerable cases had been brought up under the man’s roof and the relations had been that of parent and child. He was not convinced there was an anomaly in the present law as the mover contended, and he asked the Council not to pass the measure on the assumption that it was to remove an anomaly. Mr. Gow maintained Sir Francis Bell's presumption would occur in the vast majority of cases. The Bill was a natural corollary to what the law already contained. The second reading was carried by 13 to 9 and the Council adjourned at 3 p.m.