Report No. 15

30. Danger of Death.-

Finally, it was suggested that under the Canon law, when a person is in danger of death, he can, validly enter into a contract of marriage in the presence of two witnesses without going through the formalities of solemnisation by the priest, and that a similar provision might be made in the proposed statute. But, in our opinion, to provide that a declaration before two witnesses should suffice to constitute a valid marriage will open a wide door to false claims and perjured evidence. On the other hand, it should not be difficult for a dying man to send for the Registrar and have the marriage solemnised before him under the provisions of this Act. We have, therefore, not accepted this suggestion.