WOMEN JUSTICES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 August 1924, Page 5

WOMEN JUSTICES.

BILL BEFORE COUNCIL. SEX EQUALITY EMPHASISED. (.BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 21. The Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill, which proposes the appointment of women as justices of the peace, was discussed in the Legislative Council to-day, and its committal was defeated by 17 votes to 8. The Hon. T. W. Hislop read a petition signed by three representatives of the National Council of Women. He pointed out that almost every office was now open to women, wlio were no longer regarded as inferior to men. Why should the remaining distinction be denied them P The Hon. H. L. Michel opposed. He said that while women had the right of election to Parliament and other positions it was significant that in no case had they yet been returned. If there was a deep-seated desire on the part of women to be represented by their own sex surely it would have been demonstrated. The Hon W. H. Triggs said that without the Government Party’s assistance the Bill had passed the other House three times, and therefore there must be considerable public support behind it. If the Bill passed there was no danger that the privilege would be granted to those most, solicitous for it, and that the most efficient women would not be appointed. He urged that the time had arrived for the constitution of children’s and women’s courts and for the appointment of women justices for work for which they were specially adapted. The Hon J. P. Campbell condemned the measure as unnecessary and undesirable. He would oppose any measure that obliged women to hear profane and indecent language as occupants of the bench.

The Hon. Sir Francis Bell (Leader of the Council) opposed the Bill on its merits. Women and men could not sit together on the Bench. Men could not and never would discuss filthy obscenities in a judicial way with women. Another opponent was the Hon. R. Moore, who said the Bill was launched with party motives.