SEX WAR IN COMMONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1931, Page 13

SEX WAR IN COMMONS.

NEW BATTLES RAGING. Parliament is threatened with a sex war (states a London paper). Among the amicable relations of men and women M-P.’s a challenge has been thrown. Strong men are seen striding the corridors with set jaws, but—it must be confessed —frightened eyes, for they are up against an enemy that accepts no defeat. They are trying to hold one little spot in the House of Commons against the advancing flood of feminity. Position after position has been wrested from them. The battle of the strangers’ smokingroom was lost on that memorable day when Lady Astor walked to the door of that sacred place. “Ladies are. not admitted here, madam,” said a janitor, humbly. “In Parliament 1 am not a lady. I am a member,” said the first woman M.P., and she entered the room to mark a victory, though she has hardly ever been seen in it since. Women guests are still debarred, but women members use the place freely. Miss Wilkinson took up the struggle to open the strangers’ dining-room to women guests as well as women M.P. s. She fought for five years, and now more women than men can usually be seen at dinner there. A determined attack by the Duchess of Atholl secured the favourite Bathroom No. 1 for the exclusive use ol women. Miss Pieton Turberville has invaded the barber’s shop, and regularly has her hair trimmed and shingled while male M.P.’s fume outside. One spot alone is left, and now the battle rages freely round that. The upper smoke-room for members only is the traditional shrine of masculinity. But the notice on the door says, ‘‘Members only.” It does not dare to say, “Male members only.” And certain women M.P.’s have found that this is an' amusing place. Members naturally form into groups, and one of these "roups from Clydeside saw no reason why the woman Clydeside M.P. (Miss Jennie Lee) should be excluded. Other women M.P.’s dropped in for tea with their own M.P. friends who frequented this comfortable room. Suddenly the men woke up to what was happening. A secret society (from fear or wisdom the names of its members remain undisclosed) has been formed. “The Upper Smoking-room for men only’ is their slogan. They have even threatened reprisals. They have declared that they will invade the women members’ sitting-room and smoke there. But Miss Lee only shrugged her shoulders and said: “Why not?” There for the moment the matter stands.