WOMAN BARRISTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 14

WOMAN BARRISTER

MISS ISOBEL WRIGHT FIRST IN CHRISTCHURCH [by telegraph—own correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday The honour of being the first woman admitted to the Supreme Court in Christchurcli has fallen Wright, eldest daughter of a woll-kcowa Christchurcli lawyer, Mr. A. F. Wright. She was admitted as a barrister this morning by Mr. Justice Johnston.

The Supreme Court librarian, Mr. A. W. Reeves, states that during the last 30 years no woman has been admitted, and as the study of law by women xs a comparatively recent development, it is safe to assume that before that date no woman was admitted in Canterbury.

The list or women lawyers in the Dominion is not a long one. Great interest was aroused when Miss Benjamin qualified many years ago, and among other women early in the field was Miss Ellen Melville, who was admitted as a' solicitor in 1906 while she was working in the office of- Messrs. Devore and Martin in Auckland. Since 1909 she has practised independently in Auckland and has done much useful honorary, social and educational work in the city. An old girl of 'Nelson Girls' College, Miss Matilda Monteath, of Reefton, now Mrs. B. Monson, of Sydney, qualified in Wellington more than 20 years ago, and practised lor a time in Greymouth.

In recent years Miss Mary Eli right and Miss Marion Hollway have qualified in Auckland, the latter graduating LL.M. a few years ago.