WOMEN WANT SEAT IN HOUSE OF LORDS

Chronicle (Levin), 12 November 1947, Page 5

WOMEN WANT SEAT IN HOUSE OF LORDS

LO.XDOX, Xov, 10, Twenty-three Peeresses in their owr right who, by the present laws oi Britain, are debarred from sitting ir the House of Lords, intend to presenl a petition to the Upper House askin^ that this right be granted. Under a statute of Charles II.. the petitioners had iirst to obtain fornial permission of the Middlesex Sessions to present the petitioii and this was granted at tho Middlesex Guildhall last week. There are at present 24 Peeresses in their own right but Princess Arthur of Uonnaught, who is the Duehess of Eife in her own right, would not be eligible to sit in the Upper House. Tn 1920 a umtion reque'sting seats in the House of Lords for Peeresses in their own right, was moved by Viseount Astor but was lost by four votes. The matter was raised again last year and again rejeeted. The Peeresses have now (lecided to present their views in the form of a petition praying thaf "they be given a seat, place and voice in the Peers' House, to put forward the women 's point of view, for the guidance and assistance of their Lordships. ' ' The Times reealls that when the Sex Qualilication Removal Act was })assed in 1919, the question of the applicabilitv of this legislation to the Peeresses, and their right to sit in the House of Lords, was raised by a petition for a writ of summons to Lady Phondda. The Uommittee of Privileges tlien reported f'avourably on the claim but after lengtiiy argument, an enlarged eommittee iinaUy decided in 1922 that the admission of women to the House of Lords was not pgrt of the intention of Parliament in passing the Mex Qualilication Removal Act. The Times says the petitioners h$ve performed a public service by reminding tlie Government, on the eve of the introduction of tlie Parliament Bill, that a romprehensive review of the gtatqs of the Becond Ohamber and not only of oue asjiect of its powers, is catled for.