AGE OF MARRIAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17750, 29 June 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

AGE OF MARRIAGE

BRITAIN’S NEW LAW.

(From a Correspondent.) LONDON, May 9

The Home Secretary draws public attention to the provisions of the Age of Marriage Bill, which has passed both Houses of Parliament, and which is likely to receive the Royal Assent at an early date. From that date a marriage between persons either of whom Is under the age of 16 will be void, but any marriage solemnised or contracted before that date will not be affected. Hitherto the legal marriage age for girls has been 12 years and for boys 14. The alteration in the law' which Is now imminent is the result of a Bill introduced in the House of Lords by Lord Buckmaster and afterwards referred to a Select Committee of that House. Child Marriages.

The Select .Committee reported unanimously In favour of a revision of the present law. They stated: "Tho law should be brought into closer conformity with the moral and social development of the nation, and should register the progress already made."

One of the grounds on which the committee recommended the passing of the measure was in order to assist the activities of the League of Nations for the protection of children and young people. It was claimed that there was evidence that the present age of marriage in England impaired the influence of Great Britain in the League, and certainty prejudiced the nation’s effort to grapple with social problems arising from the early age at which marriages are contracted in India. The committee stated:

“Acceptance of the 16-year standard would be of assistance in Britain’s Influence to raise the International standard of morality.” . Child marriages even in recent years have not been so very rare. From 1915 to 1926 there were three marriages under the age of 14, 30 under the age of 15, and 292'under the age of 16, including males and females.