SEX WAR IN COMMONS

Evening Star, Issue 20898, 15 September 1931, Page 10

SEX WAR IN COMMONS

HEW BATTLES RACING Parliament is threatened with a sox war (states a London paper). Among the amicable relations of men and women M.P.s a challenge has been thrown. Strong men are seen striding the corridors with sot_ jaws, but—it must bo confessed —frightened eyes, for they are up against an enemy that accepts no defeat. They are trying to hold one little spot in tho House of Commons against tho advancing flood of feminity. Position after position has been wrested from them. Tho battle of the strangers’ smoking room was lost on that memorable day when Lady Astor walked to tho door of that sacred place “ Ladies are not admitted here, madam,” said a janitor, humbly. “In Parliament lam not a lady. lam a member,” said the first woman M.P., and she entered the room tc mark a victory, though she has hardly ever been seen in it since. Women guests are still debarred, but women members uso the place freely. Miss Wilkinson took up the struggle to open tho strangers’ dining room to women guests as well as women M.l -s. She fought for five years, and now more women than men can usually be seen at dinner there. A determined attack by the Duchess of Athol secured the favourite bathroom No. 1 for the exclusive use of the women. Miss Picton Tuborville has invaded the barber’s shop, and regularly has her hair trimmed and shingled, while male M.P.s fume outside. . , One spot alouo is loft, and now the battle rages freely round that. The upper smokcroom for members only is the traditional shrine of masculinity. Hub the notice on tho door says: ” Members only.” It does nob dare to say: ‘‘Male members only.” And certain women M.P.s have found that this is an amusing place. Members form into groups, and ono of these groups from Clydeside saw no reason why the woman Clydeside M.l. (Miss Jennie Lee) should bo excluded. Other women M.P.s dropped in for tea with their own M.P. friends who frequented this comfortable room. Suddenly the men woke up to what was happening. A secret society (from fear or wisdom the names of its members remain undisclosed) has been formed. ‘ Ihe Upper Smoking room for men only is their slogan. They have even threatened reprisals. Thoy have declaicd that they will invade tho women members’ sitting room and smoko there. Bub Miss Leo only shrugged her shoulders and said: ‘‘Why not f There for the moment the matter stands.