The Marriage Bill Stubborn and prolonged opposition by a resolute
minority prevented Mr. A. P. Herbert's Marriage Bill from passing the Report stage last Friday ; as only two further days remain for private Members, and on these the Bill will not be taken first, it seems at present unlikely to be passed this session, and its future is uncertain. Yet its major clauses concerning divorce for desertion and incurable insanity have been approved, and little time will be necessary to pass the remaining eight clauses. The Bill undoubtedly has the support of a majority in the House of Commons and in the country ; it would represent a serious distortion of demo- cratic government if it were killed for lack of a few more hours of discussion. Mr. Anthony Crossley, one of the strongest opponents of the Bill, himself made this admission last week, but pleaded that he and his supporters could not let the Bill go without expressing their convictions. No one wishes freedom of expression to be fettered ; and since even its opponents recognise the support which the Bill com- mands, the Government may reasonably be appealed to to give the necessary time for the passage of the measure through the House of Commons.
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