WOMEN ON JURIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20701, 26 April 1929, Page 18

WOMEN ON JURIES.

A short time ago Advocate Gladys Stcyn was the public prosecutor at the circuit court session in the Free State. Shortly afterwards, a letter signed “ Juror ” appeared in the press protesting against a woman holding the post of public prosecutor, as jurymen, during the hearing of a certain class of case, did not like to ask questions as they would had a man been prosecuting. The letter aroused a good deal of comment, and women’s organisations were unanimous in the view, that, not only was it fair that such appointments as that of public prosecutor should be open to fully qualified women, but that women should always form part of juries trying cases concerning women or children. Many women belonging to- various organisations then realised for the first time that only registered voters can act on juries. Consequently many of them at once became actively interested in the women’s suffrage movement, and a resolution framed by the Bloemfontein Women’s Suffrage League calling attention to the need of women on juries in cases where women and children are concerned, and urging the Government to expedite the entranchisement of women in view of tin’s need, was passed at the recent conference at Port. Elizabeth.