Licensing: Lovers.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11974, 18 September 1906, Page 2

Licensing: Lovers.

Professor Charles Zueblin, lecturer of Chicago University on municipal government and president of the American League of Civil Improvement, once more proposes a plan for improving the institution of matrimony. Some time ago Professor Zueblin, caused much discussion by advocating a system of marriage on approbation, arguing that the greatest facilities should be offered for the dissolution of marriages in the event of their proving unsuitable. In this new plan the professor proposes increased precautions against unsuitable marriages instead of greater facilities for their dissolution. In effect, the suggestion is for so ordering the period of .an engagement that betrothed couples should have every opportunity of becoming acquainted with one another's faults and foibles. Professor Zueblin proposes that there should be two ceremonies, the first constituting the legalising of the Betrothal, and tnc second, six months later, binding the couple to indissoluble marriage. Engagement licenses should be issued by the county or State on payment of a fee, as in the case of marriage licenses. The engagement contract should be for a fixed period of six months, neither more nor less, and marriage should be prohibited before the end of the term. If within a certain period after the expiration of the engagement license marriage does not follow, the contract, according to the plan, would be automatically dissolved, unless it was renewed. The professor maintains the belief that the majority of marriage 9 which turn out unsuitable would never get past the legalised engagement stage provided by his plan.