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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1974
MARRIAGE BILL INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO
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A BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, SEEKING TO ENABLE THE REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGES TO DISPENSE WITH THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE GIVING NOTICE OF AN INTENDED MARRIAGE IF IT IS TO BE CONTRACTED IN A REGISTRY.
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IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE MARRIAGE (ARINDIANT) BILL 1975,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, EXPLAINED THAT AT PRESENT THE REGISTRAR WOULD, WHEN A NOTICE OF INTENDED MARRIAGE WAS GIVEN TO HIM, EXHIBIT ONE COPY OF THE NOTICE AT HIS OFFICE.
IN DUE COURSE, HE WOULD ISSUE A CERTIFICATE TO THE EFFECT THAT NOTICES OF THE MARRIAGE WAS DULY ENTERED IN THE MARRIAGE NOTICE BOOK. THE CERTIFICATE ALSO STATES, WHERE THAT IS
THE CASE, THAT ITS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN FORBIDDEN BY ANYONE AUTHORISED TO DO SO UNDER THE LAW.
IF THE MARRIAGE IS TO BE CELEBRATED ELSEWHERE THAN AT A MARRIAGE REGISTRY, THE CERTIFICATE MUST BE GIVEN TO THE MINISTER WHO IS TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE AND THE OBJECT OF THIS IS PLAIN ENOUGH, MR. HOBLEY SAID,
AT PRESENT, THE REGISTRAR IS ALSO REQUIRED TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE WHERE THE MARRIAGE IS TO BE CONTRACTED IN A MARRIAGE REGISTRY. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FELT THAT THERE IS NO POINT IN THIS SINCE ALL THE MATTERS ARE WITHIN THE REGISTRAR'S KNOWLEDGE.
THE BILL WILL THUS MAKE IT UNNECESSARY FOR A CERTIFICATE TO BE ISSUED IN SUCH A CASE.
IT PROVIDES INSTEAD, MR. HOBLEY ADDED, FOR THE ENDORSEMENT ON THE NOTICE OF INTENDED MARRIAGE OF A STATEMENT THAT THE ISSUE
THAT OF A CERTIFICATE HAD NOT BEEN FORBIDDEN.
ENDORSEMENT WILL HAVE EFFECT AS IF A CERTIFICATE HAD BEEN ISSUED.
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