WOMEN ON THE BENCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1922, Page 5

WOMEN ON THE BENCH.

APPOINTMENT AS J.P.’S. BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House to-day went into committea on the Justices of Peace Amendment Bill. In the absence of the Leader of the Opposition, who introduced the Bill, Mr. T. K. Sidev (Dunedin South) took charge of the measure, which provided r the merit of women as Justices of the Peace. Mr. Massey said he was in favor of the Bill, and under the circumstances he asked the House to pass it without any undue delay. Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato) said that as this was a serious matter, and it was necessary that only persons of mature judgment should be appointed to sit on the Magisterial Bench, he moved that no person be appointed under this Bill who is of a less age than 40 years. This was rejected on the voices. The Hon. E. P. Lee explained that he had made inquiries from the Solicitor-Gen* eral, who informed him that under the present law no woman could be appointed a Justice of the Peace; so that if the House desired to make the change this Bill wu necessary. The Bill then passed the committee stage unamended, was read a third timd and passed.