Ladies & Gentlemen

For most of this century, many a British municipal budget has been beefed up by pennies from women's purses--the price of using a public lavatory. To make sure that two women cannot slip in for the price of one, town councils have installed elaborate and narrow turnstiles at lavatory entrances--no mean obstacle to pregnant or crippled women and to those carrying heavy shopping bags or accompanied by small, frightened children. Everyone has heard stories of some frail old lady who received her death blow from one of the turnstiles' metal bars. Adding to feminine resentment is the infuriating fact that almost all men's public lavatories cost nothing and are easy of access.

Injustice & Indignity. The lavatory issue came to a head in a crowded House of Commons. Cried fiery, red-haired Laborite Barbara Castle: "This scandal has gone on long enough. The women of Britain will no longer tolerate this injustice and indignity." Brandishing a sheaf of indignant letters, M.P. Castle reported that a notice in a women's lavatory in Derbyshire read: "If unable to operate turnstile please contact the butcher at adjoining premises."

Rising in bipartisan solidarity, Conservative M.P. Patricia McLaughlin caustically observed that the turnstiles "could only have been designed by a man with no idea of the needs and number of women" who would use them. Some male M.P.s also rallied to the cause. Dr. Barnett Stress particularly blamed "men like myself, medical men. for not having taken steps." Venerable Fenner Brockway recalled that he had fought his first election. 52 years ago. on the very same issue. He also reminded Parliament of the words of another tireless crusader, the late Bernard Shaw, who had once written a magazine article on "The Unmentionable Case for Woman's Suffrage"--"the 'unmentionable case' was that women should have equality with men in the provision of lavatories and toilets."

Vandalism & Injury. The embarrassed government made soothing noises but hastily pointed out that it could not intervene, since public lavatories were a matter for local authorities. A turnstile manufacturer sent an injured letter to the Financial Times, stating that, last year, of 16 million women passing through his turnstile, only one "had suffered serious injury." He added that a less ferocious turnstile might be designed, "provided an increase in vandalism does not result." In what way British women are more prone to lavatory vandalism than British men he did not say.

At week's end the government assured its 25 women M.P.s that a questionnaire about turnstiles would be sent to local authorities, together with a request that no more be installed. Militantly unsatisfied, British women threatened to chain themselves to their turnstiles in protest. The Manchester Guardian chivalrously offered a better plan, urged women to blockade the lavatories inside Parliament and lock the men out. Then, thought the Guardian, "the government would soon be brought to heel."

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