HL Deb 06 April 1886 vol 304 cc905-6

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

LORD MONK-BRETTON

, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, the Bill had already passed through the other House of Parliament. It was to extend the hours during which marriages might be solemnized from 12 at noon until 3 o'clock p.m. The measure was desired by the working classes, because it would enable thorn to celebrate their marriages during a half-holiday. He believed that the change would also be agreeable to other classes, because it would enable marriages to be celebrated by social gatherings at hours consonant with modern life.

Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Monk-Bretton.)

THE EARL OF SELBORNE

said, that the proposed alteration in the law would entail additional duties upon the Registrars, from one of whom he had received a communication on the subject. That gentleman stated that the Registrars had received no remuneration for attending marriages solemnized in licensed places, and that such marriages were likely to become much more frequent, if this Bill passed. He was afraid, however, that it would be beyond the province of this House to determine that the remuneration of those officials should be increased.

LORD HALSBURY

pointed out that clergymen would, under the canon law, still be subject to penalties for celebrating marriages after 1 o'clock.

THE EARL OF MILLTOWN

said, he could not understand why the provisions of the Bill did not extend to Ireland, where at present the Marriage Laws were practically similar to those of England.

LORD MONK-BRETTON

, in reply, said, that the Bill had not been extended to Ireland, because in that country there was no limit to the hours within which Roman Catholic marriages might be celebrated, while as regards other marriages the limit of time was longer than in England. As to the point raised by the noble and learned Lord opposite, he would promise that it should be looked into and carefully considered.

Motion agreed to:—Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.