Dutch Woman Barrister On Tour Of New Zealand

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 2

Dutch Woman Barrister On Tour Of New Zealand

Ten per cent, of the barristers in Holland were women, and they had equal recognition with the men in the profession, said Dr. M. H. de Jager, of Amsterdam, who left Christchurch yesterday morning to visit the southern cities and Queenstown.

Dr. de Jager, a barrister and solicitor, graduated from Groningen University. She is spending an extended holiday visiting friends in New Zealand and relatives in Australia. “I am the only member of my family to have made law my career, and did so because I feel that the profession has a wide field of possibilities such as welfare work or the civil service, but am quite happy that 1 became a barrister by circumstance.” Dr. de Jauer said in an interview with ‘‘The Press.” Dr. de Jager has a private practice, but is also employed by a firm, and is the only woman member of the staff. “There are offices staffed by women, but I am not keen on being in a wholly feminine atmosphere.” said Dr. de Jager. Dr. de Jager feels that women play -n important part in practising law in Holland, and do pood work in some spheres, such as in the handling of family affairs, especially divorce cases, alimonies, and family states, which unless they are contested are handled by notaries public. The notary public. Dr. de Jager explained, dealt with much of the work handled by solicitors in New Zealand and Australia. There were also women judges in Holland. Dr. de Jager said. Some of _hem presided at cases in which children were involved, but recently one

was appointed to handle general judicial work.

The divorce rate in Amsterdam was nigh, Dr. de Jager said. She handled one case every three weeks. In a number of instances free legal advice was given to parties who could not afford to pay fees. This service was permitted only after the case had been examined by the mayor of the city ana his consent given.

A board comprising representatives of a cross-section of the professional community, including social workers, to give advice to estranged couples as a deterrent to divorce was formed in Amsterdam recently, but Dr. de Jager did not think it had been estab’ished long enough to prove its worth. Juvenile delinquency was not out of proportion in Holland. Dr. de Jager said. It was a fashion recently for youths to “pick up” cars and go joyriding and abandon them after the petrol had been used. In practically every business firm or factory of any size in Holland a social worker was employed to at 1 end to the personal oroblems of the employees. Recreational facilities were provided. and clubs were also formed. “My countrymen who have come to settle in New Zealand seem to be very happy.” Dr. de Jager said. “It is a big break, but as long as they are prepared to work hard thev will get a more comfortable standard of living in the Dominion in a shorter time than < hey would in Holland. To come to ’ive in a country which is young and has a future must be fascinating. Most of the countries in Europe are old. with little possibility of developing.”