Women Jurors

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 64, 8 December 1937, Page 14

Women Jurors

" Not To Be Trusted" Because they form their jufegments on intuition, rather than on evidence of fact, women should not be trusted to serve on juries, in the opinion of Mr. J. V. rBarry, a leading Australian crim« and equity barrister. Discussing women's claims that they should be called upon for jury service, as in England and America. Mr. Barry said, "Until women have had more experience in the management of, community affairs, I don't think they should be allowed in the jury box. "They may- be given as much social equality as they Tke in other directions, but I don't think- they are fitted yet for the most important duty in the community— the proper administration of justice. "Women are merciless. Their judgments are formed on intuition and not on evidence. It would be highly dangerous to tell a mixed jury that, no matter what their own beliefs were as to the guilt of a person, they must be satisfied beyond all-reasonable doubt before convicting. "Few women ' would understand the distinction. It wotild be difficult to convince them that there was no room for conjecture and "suspicion." Mr. Barry ' did not think there was any large body of opinion in England in favour of mixed juyies. Mixed juries were getting' along.without much difSculty, perhaps because in England there was very strong inclination for the verdict of ! the jury - to follow the judge. That was not so in Australia, v/here the juries arrived at their verdict with an independence of thought. Another legal man said women got a little cold , on the idea of serving on juries when they are reminded that they may be lcept away fi'om home and locked up at night for three or four days during the trial of a capital case. Anti-Moths. Some of the sachets that are being sold to hang in wardrobes or tuck among the folds of clothes in drawers act as mothdispelling agents as well as diffusing perfume. Dried orange-peel and cloves mixed with various spices is one mixture that moths dislike very much, Anotner mixture is made of cedar and sandalwaod and is reputed te be a certain safe-ni*"*-*1" *"■ " jjK'i