CHILDREN'S COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 103, 5 May 1926, Page 8

CHILDREN'S COURT.

THE WILLIS' CASE. STATEMENT BT SENIOR SERGEANT. CASE FURTHER ADJOURNED-. The boy whose fattier-, E. R. Willis, appeased before the Children** Welfare Cowrt on Saturday week charged with harbouring the l*ui, whose license from the Anokland Receiving Some had been cancelled, was referred to at length this morning "by Senior Sergeant Edwards, when the ease was again mentioned at &c Children's Court at the V.M.C.A. iS*. E. C. Cutten, &M, presided and Mr-. !Dk?keon -again appeared for defendant. In asking for an adjournments Dicksen said he wanted the boy to be present <fco give evidence. He ■understood that the boy had been taken away to Weraroa, and the reason he asked for the boy to be present, was that he might give evidence on certain legal aspects which might arise-. "I understand the father went to see the boy at the Home, but found the lad. was locked up in a room in Ms pyjamas, and tho next they hear is that the •boy has been taken to Weraroa," said Mr.. Dickson. Immediately the case was mentioned Senior Sergeant Edwards said: "The evidence already given covers my case, but I was not prepared on the occasion when the case was last before the Court for the attack which was then made upon the welfare branch of the Education Department. This attack I submit, with deference, was not relevant to the case which I had to present and for this reason I was not prepared for it. I now desire to make somo explanation of the Department's position and with that I shall leave the case where it stands. The Boy Committed. The boy referred to in this case and his younger brother were in August, 1927, committed to the Probation Home. They were then four and two years of age respectively. There were very good grounds for having these boys committed to the Receiving Home, At this time the defendant was away at the war. On his return from the war application was made to the Department, and in September, 1920, the circumstances of the home were favourably reported upon and the children given back to the parents on probation. In such circumstances the boys were still kept under supervision. Reports Unfavourable. "Reports in regard to them have not been too favourable and early this year it was reported to the Department that the boys were in the habit of stealing from hawkers' carts and were not under proper control at home. "Inquiries by the Departmental officers disclosed that the mother was not in good health, that both boys were getting into mischief, and the mother admitted that she found the elder boy difficult to control. Inquiries further showed that the elder boy appeared to be the ringleader of a sanff of troublesome boye in Freeman's Brv. It appeared, therefore, that it would only be a question of time and the boy would be in serious trouble and in the meantime he was exercising a pernicious influence on the younger boy, who, by himself, the parents were able to control. It was therefore decided in the interests of both boys to separate them and to this end that the license in respect of the* elder boy should be cancelled and he should return to the Home. Absconded Several Times. " On his return the boy gave a great deal of trouble. He absconded several times, but was brought back. The third time, on being returned, ac there is no satisfactory means of forcibly detaining boye at the Home, and to keep him safe for the day, the matron ordered him to bed. He refused, and -turned on the matron, striking her. The assistant matron came along, and he struck both of them,, but they got him to bed. For this conduct, the Juvenile Probation Officer went out, and in the presence of the assistant officer, gave the boy six strokes with a strap on the buttocks, over his pyjamas. Punishment Not Severe. "It is simply absurd," continued the Senior-Sergeant; "to refer to this punishment as a thrashing, and in the terms it was referred to at tho last hearing. The boy came to no harm, and was about with the other boys next morning, and the suggestion that it was severe, oi that it affected him so that he had to remain in bed, is absolutely untrue. Four days after this he ran away again, and took another boy with him. It was then decided that, owing to the • difficulty of controlling the Doy and , retaining him in the Home, he would . be sent to Weraroa, and now that h« has come back into the hands of the Department, he has been sent there. " This matter now before the court, J think, should be handed over to the Crown solicitor. Questions may cror up which are beyond the police." Mr. Dickson: Might I reply to th« statement? His Worship: No, you can keep thai i till, later. i Mr. Dickson: But your Worship has ; i allowed my friend to make a reply, anc . I think it only fair I should be allowed to reply to his statement, i His Worship: No, I am not going t< ; allow it now. If you want an adjourn t ment, you can have it, i Mr. Clipit: The Department is pre pared, providing the boy's behaviour is ; good, to return him to his parents h [ three months, Mr. Diekson: And where will he be ii [ the meantime? Mr. Cupit: Where he is now. After Mr. Dickson had. entered a pro , test against him not being allowed t< r reply to the statements made by tin ; Senior-Sergeant and Mr. Cupit, the cas< was adjourned till May 26.