WOMEN JURORS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 17 March 1939, Page 7

WOMEN JURORS

JUSTICES SUPPORT PROPOSAL «A FORGOTTEN REFORM ” [From Our Own Reporter.] TIMARU, March 16. “Women in all parts of the world are acting on juries, and we are definitely behind in. New Zealand,” said Mrs E. Molesworth at the conference of the Federation of New Zealand Justices of the Peace at Timaru when moving the following remit on behalf of the Auckland Association, “That the time has arrived when women should serve on juries.” “If a woman is accused she stands before men, is judged by a man and faces a jury of 12 men,” added Mrs Molesworth. “It is a. trying ordeal, and I wonder what would be the reaction of men if the conditions could be reversed. It is a reform that we seem to have forgotten and neglected.” The remit was seconded by Mr W. Jacobson (Otago) and carried. Two further remits, relating to women, which were carried, were: “That in all domestic and affiliation cases a woman justice should, where available, share the bench with the magistrate” (Auckland), and “That the Minister for Justice be asked to consider the appointment of a married woman to the bench of the Court of Domestic Relations when this Court is established” (Auckland). Adoption of Remits The conference approved of the following remits; — “That responsible interested police officers be approached through the superintendent of each city with a view to establishing a boys' club where they may be shown and taught to respect and uphold the laws of the country. (Federation Registrar.) “That investigation of any claim for a benefit under the Social Security Act be exercised for the purposes of Part II of this act by the stipendiary magistrate for the district.” (Taranaki.) "That the conference asks that before future appointments are made to the commission, nominees’ names be furnished to each local association throughout New Zealand for a confidential report.” (Federation Registrar.) “That this conference prays that special consideration be given to Brit--iph subjects when appointments are made to the commission.” (Federation Registrar.) It was agreed that the _ following Canterbury Association remits be sent to the North and South Island Motor Unions, explaining that if they thought fit to move in the matter, the Justices Association would give its support: “That this conference respectfully requests the Minister for Transport to enforce more rigidly the_ laws and regulations about the dazzling lights of some motor vehicles _on the public highways of the Dominion.” “That in the interest of safety first among all classes of road users, the Minister for Transport be asked to enforce more strictly the regulations about efficient red reflectors required to be fixed at the rear of push bithis conference endorses the proposed legislation now under consideration to check in some way the spead of vehicular traffic approaching corners, crossings, and intersections in the open country and closely populated areas, and more particularly in cities, as these are the places where the greatest number of accidents happen, not only in this country but all over the world.” , „ , ~ Iti making a presentation of a goldmounted fountain pen on behalf of the Gisborne association to Mr John Jackson, registrar of that association since its establishment in 1928, Mr W, C. Weston said that the recipient had given sterling service at Gisborne and would be a tower of strength to the West Coast Association. , It was decided to approve of the principle of the Wellington remit advocating the foundation of a scholarship for the inrmtes of Borstal Institutions, „ . _ . A remit from the West Coast was approved recommending to the Minister for Justice an amendment to the law by substituting the word week for the word month, to remove an anomaly in the law which prevents a person sentenced to less than a month's imprisonment from appealing against his sentence.