A.—B,

1904. NEW ZEALAND.

"THE STATUTES COMPILATION ACT, 1902": MEMORANDUM BY THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL ON THE MARRIAGE ACTS COMPILATION BILL, 1904.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Act.

MEMOEANDUM. No alteration has been made in the wording of the Acts compiled, except as follows:— (a.) Where necessary to fit in amendments: e.g., "the principal Act" becomes "this Act." (b.) In sections 11 and 12 of the principal Act " ministers or adult members " is substituted for " householders," to give effect to section 2 of the Amendment Act of 1891. (c.) Where necessary to give effect to present law: e.g., "Resident Magistrate" in section 4 of the Amendment Act of 1891 becomes " Stipendiary Magistrate." (d.) The description of certain crimes in sections 46 to 52 of the principal Act as felonies and misdemeanours, and the punishments therefor, are modified in terms of section 8 of " The Criminal Code Act, 1893." (c.) Section 54 of the principal Act, repealing prior Acts, is omitted. (/.) In Schedule B of the principal Act " The Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland " is omitted (see Act of 1901, private, No. 3), and " The Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand" is substituted for " The Wesleyan Methodist Society" and " The United Methodist Free Churches " (see Act of 1902, No. 49). (g.) In " The Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Act, 1880," after "passing of," the words " The Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Act, 1880," are substituted for " this Act" ; and, after "operation of," the words "the last-mentioned" are substituted for "this." (h.) A similar alteration is made in " The Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Act, 1900." (i.) The preamble and section 2 of "The Marriage Act Amendment Act, 1889," are omitted. In addition to the foregoing alterations, the Long and Short Titles of the Compilation Act take the place of the corresponding titles of the original Act (" The Marriage Act, 1880 "). Moreover, a reference to the compiled Acts is made in subsection (1) of section 1; a list of these Acts is inserted as the First Schedule, and the numbering of the schedules to the original Act is consequentially altered.

No alteration has been made in the wording of the Acts compiled, except as follows: — (a.) Where necessary to fit in amendments: e.g., "the principal Act" becomes "this Act." (b.) In sections 11 and 12 of the principal Act " ministers or adult members " is substituted for " householders," to give effect to section 2 of the Amendment Act of 1891. (c.) Where necessary to give effect to present law: e.g., "Resident Magistrate" in section 4 of the Amendment Act of 1891 becomes " Stipendiary Magistrate." (d.) The description of certain crimes in sections 46 to 52 of the principal Act as felonies and misdemeanours, and the punishments therefor, are modified in terms of section 8 of " The Criminal Code Act, 1893." (c.) Section 54 of the principal Act, repealing prior Acts, is omitted. (/.) In Schedule B of the principal Act " The Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland " is omitted (see Act of 1901, private, No. 3), and " The Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand" is substituted for " The Wesleyan Methodist Society" and " The United Methodist Free Churches " (see Act of 1902, No. 49). (g.) In " The Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Act, 1880," after "passing of," the words " The Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Act, 1880," are substituted for " this Act" ; and, after "operation of," the words "the last-mentioned" are substituted for " this." (h.) A similar alteration is made in " The Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Act, 1900." (i.) The preamble and section 2 of "The Marriage Act Amendment Act, 1889," are omitted. In addition to the foregoing alterations, the Long and Short Titles of the Compilation Act take the place of the corresponding titles of the original Act (" The Marriage Act, 1880 "). Moreover, a reference to the compiled Acts is made in subsection (1) of section 1; a list of these Acts is inserted as the First Schedule, and the numbering of the schedules to the original Act is consequentially altered.

Subject to the alterations above referred to, I hereby certify that the annexed compilation intituled "The Marriage Acts Compilation Act, 1904," is a true and correct compilation of the respective Acts specified in the First Schedule thereto. Feed. Fitchett, Solicitor-General. Crown Law Offices, Wellington, 10th August, 1904.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (1,425 copies), 18i. 6d.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o4.

Price 3d.]