"THE PRESS" WEATHER REPORT.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17104, 28 March 1921, Page 10

"THE PRESS" WEATHER REPORT.

Readings by Self-recording Instruments at •• The Press " Office, Christchurch, up to 2 a.m. on March 28th, . > »»„ I Wir.d, S.W.; clouo;:: barometer, rising. [ y

ment. in its wisdom, having empowered women to take part in the administration of the law, t here is, of course, nothing to he done but to make the best of rather a bad job." But the incident in the Divorce Court serves to conlirni the view that the active participation of women in tho administration of justice, whether as jurors or as advocates, might sometimes hamper it. . , ."The incident has its significance in regard to woman advocates as well as .to woman jurors. It indicates — what was repeatedly pointed out when tho admission of women to tho Bar was under discussion—that their appearance in certain classes of litigation and,criminal trials, by embarrassing their opponents, may tend to interfere with tho course of justice. "When women do practise in the Courts—and we are far from saying that there are not some classes of litigation in which, their services may lie useful—they will, it may be hoped, abstain from appearing in cases in which their presence is likely to have that mischievous result." A barrister writes: "It is absurd to say that the objection to women on the jury in certain divorce and criminal cases is based on a misconception of the nature of womankind, or that it is a survival of the antiquated notipn of woman as a fragile creature who must bo shielded from all unnecessary contact with the more sordid facts i)f life. It is i\pt n question of equality but of decency; of chivalry, if you like; certainly of mutual respect between tho sexes. Things aro spoken by men among men and by women among women which are not mentioned in a mix-, ed company. In cases where such questions do. not arise, it is already evident the presence of women jurors has affected 1 the methods df advocacy very considerably. There can be no doubt that in certain cases the presence of women jurors will help the ends of justice, but the demand for their attendance should be confined strictly to such cases."