THE DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4161, 22 August 1881, Page 4

THE DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.

Persistent obstruction having been offored for many years to the introduction of the Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, in regard to which Mr Bright has written stating that " the case is one of very great hardship and a ecandal to our legislative system," a memorial on the subject has been presented to the Prime Minister asking his assistance in bringing the question before the House of Commons. This memorial, signed by 253 members of Parliament, Conservative and Liberal, representing one-half of the entire electoral body of tho United Kingdom, has just been replied to by Mr Gladstone. The Premier states that the interests and the embarrassments connected as to time with the Irish Land Bill are too great at present to allow him to speculate on the possibility of Government being able to give any ai'.i to the Bill, though he Bincerely hopes it may be in their power to do bo. After the Land Bill the Bankruptcy Bill is indicated as the measure for which there is likely to be greatest demand, but Mr Gladstone fears there may be still other measures pressing for consideration which they can hardly put aside for the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill. As regards English people marrying a decoased wife's sister in this country or on tho Continent, it may bo reasonably urged that the parties go through such a ceremony with their eyes open, and with tho knowledge that it is a mere ceremony, having no legal effect. But no Buch objection can be urged in respect of marriages of this class in tho Colonies. The murriago took place undor a law sanctioned by the Queen in Council, and tho contract is valid where it take? place, and in almost all other parts of the Queen's dominions, save that in which she herself resides. In fact, the Queen's subject?, whilst still under her authority, may be both married and unmarried, and their children may in three-fourths of tho Empire, have a legal tstatu^, whilst in tho fourth they have " no name," and no rights of heritage. Surely either tho Colonial laws should have been vetoed, or the English law should be altered. — European Mail.