HC Deb 09 June 1892 vol 5 cc680-3

COMMITTEE.

Considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clause 1.

DR. TANNER

We have no explanation of any of these measures, and I think we ought to have some explanation to save us the trouble of reporting Progress. The Government have already got about eight millions of money to-night, and they are not satisfied, but want to pass fifteen Bills without any explanation.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER,) Isle of Wight

This Bill is merely for the purpose of putting into one Bill the Acts that have been passed with respect to marriages abroad. It includes the Act that was passed last year. It was felt that there should be a consolidated Act, putting all the legislation on this subject into one measure. The Bill has been most carefully drafted, and I have gone through it carefully myself. It introduces no new matter, and is merely for the purpose of consolidating all the Acts that have been passed on this subject.

DR. TANNER

I hope the right hon. Gentleman will not insist on taking all the stages to-night, as he did on the last Bill.

Clause agreed to.

Clause 2.

Amendment proposed, to add the words "And whether he is or is not a minor."—(The Attorney General.)

Question proposed, "That those words be added."

DR. TANNER

If this is simply a consolidation Bill, why should it require amendment? If the Bill has been drafted under the special and all-important supervision of the Attorney General, I am at a loss to know why he should now seek to amend it. The way we are now scrambling through legislation is not worthy the reputation of the House.

SIR RICHARD WEBSTER

The Schedule of one of the Acts which is being consolidated said that the marriage form should state whether either or which of the parties was or was not minor. The drafters did not notice this particular Schedule, and did not repeat the particular words. The words are not absolutely necessary, and the Bill would have been, practically speaking, complete without them. But I thought it was better that the words should be clear as to the obligation to state the ages, and, therefore, I moved this Amendment.

DR. TANNER

The right hon. Gentleman assured us a moment ago that he had gone through this Bill with great care and had given it his special sanction.

SIR RICHARD WEBSTER

I said nothing of the kind.

DR. TANNER

I speak in the recollection of the House, and I stand by my words. With respect to this Bill there are no Amendments on the Paper, and the hon. Gentleman gets up and proposes Amendments as it suits his fancy or humour. I cannot quite understand the right hon. Gentleman's anxiety to insert these valuable words if the Bill would do just as well without them, and I think his conduct in respect of this Bill is extraordinary.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 3 and 4 agreed to.

Clause 5.

Amendment proposed, to insert the words "and shall inform the parties."—(The Attorney General.)

Question proposed, "That those words be inserted."

DR. TANNER

Here, again, I think we ought to have some explanation.

SIR RICHARD WEBSTER

The present Marriage Law provides that where the Secretary of State shall give directions as to a marriage being allowed to be solemnised the marriage officer shall obey the directions of the Secretary of State. It was suggested to me from the other side of the House that it was desirable that the parties should be informed of the decision of the Secretary of State, and that seemed so reasonable that I adopted it and have embodied it in this Amendment.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 6 to 8, inclusive, agreed to.

Clause 19.

Verbal Amendment proposed.—(The Attorney General.)

DR. TANNER

I want some explanation of this Amendment.

SIR RICHARD WEBSTER

The first paragraph directs the officer to solemnise marriage or to allow it to be solemnised in his presence, and this is simply a correction in the proviso of the clause.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 20 to 25, inclusive, agreed to.

Clause 26.

Amendment proposed, in page 10, line 20, after "consul," to add "or other marriage officer."—(The Attorney General.)

DR. TANNER

I should like an explanation of this Amendment.

SIR RICHARD WEBSTER

In the repealed Acts marriages are allowed to be solemnised before a British Consul or other marriage officer. The Bill provides for the marriage before the Consul, but omits "or other marriage officer." The Amendment is to rectify that.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 27 agreed to.

Schedule agreed to.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.