HC Deb 04 March 1929 vol 226 cc9-10
18. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has ruled that the admission of women to the Palestine bar must be postponed; if so, why he gave this ruling; and whether any person or body resident in Palestine has raised any objection to women practising as lawyers, as doctors, as teachers, as inspectors, to women having a vote, or appearing in public unveiled?

Mr. AMERY

Yes, Sir. The matter was before me in 1926, when I decided, on the recommendation of the High Commissioner, that it was not desirable, in view of the conditions prevailing in Palestine, to proceed for the present with the question of the admission of women to legal practice in that country. I have not the material for dealing with all the various points raised in the last part of the question. When the question of the admission of women to legal practice came before the Palestine Advisory Council in 1920, it was strongly opposed by two Mohammedan members.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will do all in his power to break down this oriental attitude towards women?

Mr. AMERY

We have examples in Afghanistan and other places of the un-desirability of moving too hurriedly in this matter.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

When the right hon. Gentleman looks at Afghanistan, will he also look at the reforms which are going on in Turkey?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

Is there any evidence of any real opposition to this reform?

Mr. AMERY

I understand there is; and, on a question of this sort, I am bound to act on the advice of the High Commissioner.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

As that advice was given in 1920, will the right hon. Gentleman find out whether the High Commissioner still thinks that there would be a revolution if women were given this right?

Mr. AMERY

The advice was last given in 1926.