WOMEN IN MALE ATTIRE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 121, 23 May 1919, Page 3

WOMEN IN MALE ATTIRE.

Many of the women war-workers are expressing their intention to continue wearing men’s attire on their return to civil life (says the London National News). “Our only trouble,’’ said one ol' them, “is.—What will the police say? We have read of women having been prosecuted for masquerading in men’s . attire before the war, and we wonder if the same will happen again now that the war is over.” That the police are alive to the probability of many women continuing to appear publicly in breeches and short coats, similar to those worn by men, was admitted at Scotland Yard recently. and the police find the problem somewhat difficult. It was explained that there exists no statute to prevent a woman from walk ing about in public in any costume. She may, if she chooses, wear exactly the same clothes as a man. In cases where women have been prosecuted the charge has been so framed as to show that she was guilty of conduct likely to lead to a breach of the peace, o'” that she was breaking some statute not concerned with clothing. The police instructions ar e .not to interefere with women because of their dress, if the women are doing some work. But, if, after work is over, they elect to walk about in the town or on the sea front in men’s dress they will run grave risks of being apprehended by the police.