MR. WILFORD AND THE WOMEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 6

MR. WILFORD AND THE WOMEN

Sii-, —It wns with mingled horror and amusement Unit J. read in your issue of Thursday the reply of the Minister ot •lustice, tho Hon. T. 11. Wilford, to a. deputation of women who asked that women should lw appointed magistrates and justices of the peace, and also ho allowed to sit upon juries. The reply was-

"He did not Deliove In women on juries. The prejudices of men were of the mind, and could Im overcome; but the piejudices of women were of the heart, and therefore impregnable." That a man occupying so important a position as Mr Wilford, and one who by virtue of his position should be conversant with all that women are doing • throughout; the world, should make such an entirely fatuous statement apparently in all seri ousness is astounding, and is one of the signs which show to what a pass of retrogression this once-advanced and liberal country is coming to. It is no wonder that thinking women (and there is quite a fair majority of them) are turning to Lalwur for help in achieving their objects since there is, nothing to be looked for from either Reform or Liberalism (and still less from this "Compromise Government") save insults. Tho sooner they perfect their organisations with a' view to future action the better, for one cannot believe they are so spiritless as to allow such an attitude to pass without action on their part. If they do they will deserve all they will,set. I am sending papers with Mr. Wilford'.v reply to American and English suffrage societies and to other sources of publicity to show to what a reactionary condition this country has ireached.—l am, CtC " EQUALITY FOE WOMEN.