The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-14
NoLegal Barrier Arises
Since Privile g e S
Lapsed Merely by
Force of CUSTOM
Who's Who Among
the Eligibles

the Ellg1bleS
was in detecting the defect Of the bill Gre
ating the new Government department
far as it pertained to the interests Of women
and in securing it's rectifcauon AS orig
inally drawn up the measure gave women
totally inadequate representation in she adj
ministration. In theory the Ministry of
Health relied on a representation Of both
sexes on the advisory councils. But in
reality the women would have been outnum-
bered by the men twenty to one.
The very large number of women init
mately concerned with health work in So
cieties and on public bodies as health inspec-
tors. district nurses and teachers had no
representation at all on any Of the councils.
The class Of women who would have most
to do with carrying out the regulations of
the Minlstry-the women who as wives and
mothers have become the natural guardians
of public health-had no representation at
ALL Not only was this unfortunately a fact
but there was no provision for any one to
act as nm intermediary between them and the
Ministry; no one to present public opinion
to the new department or to bring pressure
for the carrying out of recommendations
made in the interest of public duty.
IT largely due to the indefatigable
efforts of Lady Rhondda that a watching
council formed made up of representa-
tives from eighty different womens organ
zations in the kingdom, to watch the inter
ests of women and interests OF the nation as
seen by women, which during the passage of
the bill made suggestions and offered plans
to meet its deficiencies. The watchers urged
the formation of a fourth advisory council
to be composed entirely of women to act In
concert with the three other advisory bodies
already named and TO have the same recog-
milton and privileges of direct access to the
= NJ.
come into direct contact with the women in
their homes, would gain their confidence, and
from the accurate knowledge thus acquired
make effective rules for public health which
the Ministry might enforce
In Behalf of Women Workers.
AS president of the womens Industrial
League of Great Britain, Lady Rhondda did
much to improve the conditions under which
women labor, and put her vitality and energy
into solving their problems Discussing
after the war prospects she deplored the be-
lief that women could be put back into the
occupations of laundry, sewing. housework
and other poorly paid trades after having
experienced a certain amount or financial in
dependence combined with a knowledge OF
progress. They will refuse TO go backward
she said, land II may result ultimately In
the standards of those trades being raised
and the compensation incroas-d.'
As TO the work OF Tire Industrial Women
League, she said: I'VE want 70 prevent laws
and regulations that win exclude women
from opportunity in the most skilled trades
which they are competent ~ MASTER and
give them an equal chance with men"
While the sex disqualification act has
equalized the position OF the s-xvs I'm regard
70 public appointments, technically The SOW
ereign can refuse to issue such a summons
as Lady Rhondda prays in her petition.
Charles IT. is on record as having declined
to issue writ Of summons TO EDWARD Knoll
lys, the son of the wife OF the nrst Earl Of
Banbury. although the Committee Privi-
leges of the House of Lords. which acts
an advisory tribunal to the Crown in such
matters. had declared Edward Knollys to be
the first Earl's son and lawful heir.
Privileges the Peers Hold.
II Viscountess Rhondda and her sister
poeresses in their own right duchesses
ccuntesses and harnesses secure the
right to sit and vote in the House OF Lords.
they will presumably have all the privileges
enjoyed by peers of that chamber. AS mem
'bers OF the House of Lords. they cannot be
arrested except for an indictable offence. and
ir charges Of felony or treason can be tried
only by that House, all the members Of
which arc summoned to attend. Each mem
Der delivers HIS verdict in the form upon
my honor" decision being arrived at ev the
voice Of tho majority The trial in 1901 Of
Earl Russell was held before some two hun
dred members Of the peers sitting both
judges and jury No similar trial before
peers had occurred for sixty years peer
is not put upon his oath when sitting in
judgment in such proceedings. nor in
clnncery case. but II called as a witness
either in High Court OF Parliament or in an
ordinary civil case the oath is administered
TO him to others.
Peers are not liable 10 serve on iuries %
privilege only recently extended 70 women in
England. and (ths will not affect Lady
Rhondda) are entitled TO keep their hats ON
in courts Of justice. To two baronics those
OF Kingsale and Forester there Is attached
the singular concession Of keeping hats orr
In the presence Of the sovereign To assault
4 peer (or even his servant IN tho case of %
Peer Of Parlamcnt) or TO spread a libel roc
spectng him land likewise her il the women
enter the Lords Is an offence treated with
exceptional severity. And finally, tho mem
bors OF tho noble order N sentenced 10 y.
hanged have the satisfaction Of krowioe
that a silker cord must bc used in swinei~-
them IN. This privilege was claimed by IN
eighth Lord stourton and by the fourth Ear'
Ferrers