CHILD WELFARE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 207, 15 June 1936, Page 4

CHILD WELFARE.

Sir, —Last Saturday morning toward 11 o’clock wjien nearing a prominent intersection of the town I was amazed to see a young girl escorted by three stalwart policemen in uniform. They were evidently going from the Police Station to the local ‘Courthouse. Your report of the proceedings of the Children’s Court discloses that the girl was committed to the care of the State. The charge of “idle and disorderly” might easily apply to many good citizens, hut it would not take much of a lawyer to disprove it in Court. From information that has been supplied to me it appears as if this poor defenceless, motherless girl lias had a pretty raw deal. After being formally committed for no real crime, she is marched back and again dumped for the rest of the day in a miserable cold cell behind prison, bars. Surely in this enlightened, twentieth century there is a better and more enlightened way of dealing with a child under the age ol sixteen years. When the girl, who was earning an honest living, heard that she was going to be taken away , she became terrified and bolted like any frightened rabbit might do. A kind friend arranged for her to gO' to a good home in the country, where the girl had made up her mind to stay and make a success of life. The stern arm of the law, howeyer, decreed otherwise. The Government may have another State-owned child for the future, but it would have been better if private enterprise in this case had been allowed to win out. It is only fair to say that had the case been Heft to the local welfare officer this chance would have been given. The local police are also known to be efficient and carry out their duties according to instructions, and I have no wish to reflect upon them.

I do, however, condemn the wretched arrangements the authorities have for dealing with oases of children who have not had a. fair chance in life. It is about time we got away from the prison complex as revealed in this case. S. ANDRE‘V. [When the ahcwe letter was referred to Sergeant J. F Cleary, he stated that the implication in the letter that the girl was escorted and surrounded by three policemen was absolutely in—correct. The girl was escorted to the Courthouse by Miss Gates (Child. \Veil'fare Officer). The police were not at any time so close to Miss Gates and her charge as to indicate to the casual observer that there was any connection between the two groups. Sergeant Cleary added that he was one of the police party referred to.———Ed. “Guardian.”]