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He added: "I am strongly of the opinion that economies will more than offset the expenditures. For example. there is a considerable amount of time wasted in the pres-I ent system and I think the presence of women on Juries may speed up! the administration ot justice." Skeptics' laughter rippled through the Chamber. Mr. Conant con- tinued: "Undoubtedly when a Jury retires under the present system. there is a considerable waste of time, and I feel that there will be less time wasted it women are present. "It is only natural Justice that women. who have taken an ever- increasing responsibility in this war. should take responsibility here." added Mr. Conant. He visioned a time. not tar distant. when there would be a shortage of manpower. Women. he claimed. could effect signal service to the country by serving on juries. _ - 7 Mr. Frost confessed that. at first he was opposed to it. "I ask you ',', he pleaded. "before you vote on this bill. can you advance my reason be. yond pure prejudice why women should not sit on Juries? There is absolutely no reason why women should not take part in the adminis- tration ot our laws." Debate was desultory until the "Attorney-Genera!. in answer to questions. estimated that the cost of providing accommodation tor women Jurors would vary between seen and 8300 in each county. t200 and $300 in eacl Time "Waated" Now. The proposed legislation had its moat persistent champions in At- torneyAhrnorat Conant and Leslie M. Frost (Cons. Victoria). The bill wad drafted on the recommendation ot the Legislative Committee which last summer held an inquiry into the administration ot Justice. Mr. Conant was chairman of the com- mittee and Mr. Frost Was a mem- ber. i "l have too much sympathy for. women." said the Barry's Bay lum-' human. "Women have enough to! do now. This bill is gomg to "use! coniusion in the homes and in the courtrooms." ' An hour', debate that crossed: party lines and indicated particular» iy strong opposition from the rurail tidings left the bill still without a; second reading vole. The debate! was adjourned hy Tom P. Murray! (Lin. Renfrew South), on the flat' note. "I'm against it." i Opposition to women Jurors threatened yesterday in the Ontario Legislature to engulf the Provinces tirst mixed Juries bill and foretold 'hort shrilt tor the measure in com- mittee stage-it it ever gets that 'ar. CONANT ARGUES WOMEN JURORS SPEED JUSTICE l, 'SERVICE-TO NATION' Skeptics Laugh, Debbie Stalls, as Opposition by Rural Members Met mgh con- Jury MARC ll 20 "If either my wife or daughter is called for Jury service I hope Provi- dence will keep them from sitting on a jury and hearing evidence," he said. J. A. Habel (Lit. Cochrane North; granted women equal rights in the franchise and in the right to sit in the House. but in Juries he declared a blunt "No"! an hater. could bar them from serv- ing. He might not like a woman's tace-any reason at all-and the effect of the bill is nullified." "This clause will upset the full power of selection. and in effect may bar women from juries," he argued. "The selector may call women to serve on juries. but under this clause a judge. who is a wom- Colonel Fraser Hunter (Lib., To. ronto-St. Patrick) backed the bill, but questioned a clause which said that a presiding judge might. on his discretion or upon application. make an order that the Jury shall be composed of men only, or of women only, as the case might re- quire. He. too, maintained that women Jurors would improve the quality ot jurors, a need recognized by the courts. . Would Improve Quality.