MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL

Thames Star, Volume LVI, Issue 14324, 10 September 1920, Page 2

MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL

j There.is at present before the Legislative Council a Bill amending; the Ma* riag1© Act. The measure has been ! before t-h© Statutes Revision Commits. toe, and certain vei'y dra^ic amendments have been recommended far ■ j-inclusion in, the Bill. There are sur^ 't 0 ib© very lengthy debates ■ on. - the measure, and if the aanendmen-ts are can Tied the effect -will be very fa.rreaching. . There may be .reason for am amendment t^ the present Ac-, i but it i s doubtful if some of the su-^ gestions are necessairy. For instance, ! cla,us© one and %o provide: (I) j "Every person committs an "'offence j against this Aot, and is liaible on sumi maa*y conviction to imprisonment for one year-or a fine of £100' who (a) : alleges expressly or toy implication ! that aaiy persons lawfully married aii'e, not truly and sufficiently married 1;. or ? ' (b) alleges espnessly or by impliear tion that the issue of any lawful mar- ! ria.gie is illegitimate ov 'born out of titie wedlock. ~'< . • . (2i) " 'Alleges' j n this section meajis making' any verbal statement or publishing or issuing any printed or written statement, or in any manner authorising malting; of any verbal statement O r in any manner au^hofisingl or being -party t 0 the pdHication or issue of any printed or wtritten statement.'' It would 'no* be difficult to commit a-'breach of these classes, and the penalties are very hea.vy. i