FALSE DECLARATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 4 December 1926, Page 5

FALSE DECLARATION.

14-YEAR-OLD BRIDE. DUNEDIN, Friday. William John Parsons appeared'before Mr .Justice Sim in the Supreme Court this morning for sentence on a charge of making a falsjj declaration at Cromwell under the Marriage Act. On behalf of the prisoner, Mr J. C. Parcell said that there seemed to be very little in the case. Accused had given the age of the girl lie married as sixteen, whereas she was fourteen. The declaration, in fact, amounted to very little. His Honour: Do not continue on that Hue, Mr Parcell, unless you wisli me to inflict a more severe punishment than I intended. Please do not suggest that the matter should be treated as a joke. Mr Parcel!: The man has not done Very much wrong. He is a first-class boy.

His Honour: If you will be so silly as to continue on that line you will drive me to inflict more .serious punishment than I intended.

Mr Parcell said that prisoner had a good character in the district. The Grown Prosecutor (McAdams) said it was difficult to understand why prisoner' made the false declaration when he: could have married the girl at her real age. His Honour: Could she contract marroage at fourteen? Mr Adams replied that she could have been married at twelve.

llis Honour said that was so. A bov of fourteen and a girl of twelve could be married.

Mr Adams said that at fourteen the marriage was not void, it was only .voidable. ■ The girl had ,the necessary consent.

His Honour pointed out that the girl was under the age of consent provided in the Crimes Act. That, however, did not seem to have any bearing.

In imposing a line of £5, His Honour remarked that iiqtheso cases it was not usual to grant probation, but to. order a. line, or if the case was serious, to order imprisonment.