The Westport Times TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1884.

Westport Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 3273, 25 November 1884, Page 2

The Westport Times TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1884.

O.ve of the most important Acts rulle 1 to the Statute Book during the session of Parliament lately concluded is ihe .Married Women's Properly Act. This measure is based on the hues of a recent English enactment ; and it may he expected to eft. ct considerable revolution in social circles in this Colony, as it has in the mother country We may quote a short summary of the new lav, as published by a contemporary. By it n married woman may acquire, hold, and dispose of by deed, will, or otherwise, any real or personal property as if she were a feme sole, without the interven tion of any trustee. She may also enter into any contract to the extent of the value ol her property, and sue or be sued, and if carrying on business separately from her husband she will be liable to the bandruptcy laws The Act shall apply to women who have married either before or after the passing of the Act, those who have married since being entitled to hold as separate property all that they owned before marriage ; and those who married before the Act was passed shall have a full title to all property they may acquire after the Act shall come into torce. livery woman shall have in her own name power tn tue persons (including her husband) who may be indebted to her, but no criminal proceedings mav be taken by awife against her husband while they are living together on any matters affecting her property. The huv app : ies in like manner to the proceedin?s of a wife against her husband. Anv married woman will continue to lie liahle for any debts or contracts entered into before marriage, and may be sued for such. This, however will only operate in the case of any properly owned by the wife before marriage. Where the husband of ai-y woman having separate property becomes des'itute, a summons against the wife may be issued . and such order tuny be made and enforced against her fur the maintenance of her husband as may now be made or enforced against a husband for the maintenance of his wife. A married woman having separate property will also be subject to all such liability for the maintenance ol her children and gfaudcnUdteri, is the husband is now by law sul>ject to. These are some of the provisions of this Bill,

which it will be seen are highly important. While the gentler sex are protected in great measure, yet they in the s;tme proportion incur greater responsibilities, aud enjoy some of the higher privileges of citizsnsh'p.