CHILDREN'S COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 162, 11 July 1928, Page 9

CHILDREN'S COURT.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS.

"ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE" SOUTHERN CROSS LEAGUE'SVTEWS. The exclusion of the Press from the Children's Court in Auckland is not viewed favourably by the Southern Cross League. Speaking on behalf of the league Mrs. Emily Nicol says: "I can safely say that this Star Chamber adoption will be very strongly condemned, especially as the league is in possession of knowledge of recent occurrences which have been brought before the Court, but the details of which the Press has very rightly decided shall be veiled from the public.

"The exceeding frail bugbear of parental control tenaciously held to by Church and Court alike to the detriment of the poor mother—even the most rigidly careful mother as history proves -spalls into insignificance when brought side by side with environment which is the prime factor that has conduced to the coming in of this primary Court of Justice. This Court has a duty to perform to the public—the duty of destroying, not creating, opportunities for trouble and the public has an inalienable right to know how that duty is administered with its benefits and success, if any.

"The Children's Court has not been a qualified success so far. The nature of the crime brought forward has not— even with publicity—met with an adequate reproof. With the exclusion of the public it is now likely to revert to a round table conference in which the children will take part and perhaps ultimately govern. The Star Chamber methods will leave no impression upon the youthful minds brought thither, unfortunately to their own detriment."