WOMEN JURORS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1924, Page 4

WOMEN JURORS.

SYDNEY, Dot 1 . 27. Representatives of various women's organisations are again urging that women should he allowed to serve as jurors. While the proposal presents administrative difficulties, the Minister for Justice (Mr Ley) does not think they are insuperable. The question is to he submitted to the Cabinet at an early date. A deputation to the Minister from the womenfolk was not without its little Hashes of humour. Only women, according to one speaker, can understand sometimes what really constitutes cruelty on the part of a main. On woman said that there were men who. among their friends, wore perfect angels. Inside the house, in the company of the wife and family, they were devils. Anotliei*’ woman, in urging that, tor the protection of the children alone, women .should have the right to sit on juries, related that only recently a man who had ruined three little children. was sentenced to two years’ 'imprisonment, which meant only eight months in gaol for ea( h charge. One administrative difficulty which will have to be overcome before women can >ii in judgment on cases is that jurors sometimes have to he locKed up fur the night. And, as the Minister rightly points oui. the law could not permit jurors to go home and cook their dinners .and then come back {or the night. The fact that in Queensland ,u system of voluntary service on juries h;is been .arranged for women, was cited by the deputation, but the Milliner's altitude is that they can hit]ally make it voluntary service in the case of women, and tompnlsory serviic tn the ease ol men. Mr Te\ realises that there tire many women better fitted for the jury set vice than some men. Mis point, however, is that sex is not a proper qualification, but that efficiency should he the tost. If women are sworn ill .as jurors it will not be a hasty reform, tor the jury system was in existence in about the thirteenth century.