WOMEN MAGISTRATES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 January 1927, Page 7

WOMEN MAGISTRATES.

“SHIRKERS” WHO LEAVE THE BENCH. ‘Mrs. P. E. Green, a woman Magistrate, recently refused to leav*'e the Bench during the hearing of a case at Colchester Police Court, and was warmly supported in .her attitude by those interested in the feminist movement. Much comment has been aroused by the action of Mr. C. P. Hutton, a fellow Magistrate, who left the court as a protest against Mrs. Green remaining on the Bench after the Mayor had asked the public to retire from the court. Miss Edith Berthen, one of the few women in London, told a Press representative that sh'c entirely agreed with Mrs. Green. “It is obvious, ’ ’ she said, ‘ ‘ that there was a woman in the case, and where a woman is concerned there ought to b'‘e a woman on the Bench. Even before there were any women Magistrates it was recognised that wdxen a woman was involved in a case tlr'ere should be another woman in court to stand by her and give her moral support. ’ ’ Miss Florence Underwood, secretary of the Women’s Freedom League, said that a woman Magistrate was appointed to her office on exactly tWe same terms as a man, and she had to swear tlm 'same oaths. “These cases concern wo*men as greatly as they do men,” she added. “Just consider for a moment if a woman was being trh'ed in a special case. The male Magistrates would certainly not leave the case to be tried by the.wmmen on the Bench. They would proceed with the cas'o and think nothing of it. Women Magistrates should not be concerned with their ow r n personal feelings. They are in the court to administer justice in the same way as the nr'en. If a man Magistrate cannot see his w r ay to justice being meted out by men and women alike on the Bench, then he is old fashioned, and the sooner he leaves tlr'e Bench the better.”

Mrs. Green, in an interview, said she held strongly to the view that there should be no distinction between the sex ( 'es in* public work. “If a woman undertakes a public duty,” she added, “she should perform it faithfully, no matter how unpleasant it may be, I am dead against women Magistrates leaving court when objectionable cases are hoard. They ar'e shirkers. I feel I am not on the Bench as a woman, but as a man and a brother Magistrate. Friday happened to bo my rota, but the court officials have instructions to send for me whenever there is. a case involving wonr'en or children. I feci that women have a special contribution to make in this respect, for their presence on the Bench makes all'the difference to women and children who have to give unpleasant evidence.”