CUSTODY OF CHILD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 260, 2 November 1935, Page 17

CUSTODY OF CHILD.

CONTRAVENTION OF ACT. WOMAN BEFORE COURT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON', Friday. A young •woman, Edith May Siinnionds, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court to-day to being an unlicensed foster-paranf in that she had custody of a ■ahild for more than seven consecutive days. On her behalf it was stated that she did not know that keeping a child for another woman out of kindness was a contravention-of the Act. She was convicted and ordered to come itp for sentence if called on within six months. The child welfare officer .said the Department was anxious to eradicate unlicensed homes. "The view tl:e Court takes of it," said the magistrate, "and the sooner it is widely known the better, is that it is in the interests of children themselves that this particular section of the Act should bo strictly enforced. Unfortunately in the history of the Dominion we have had several-most serious cases in connection with infants, and it is with the object of averting anything in future like baby-farming that the Education Department is taking action in this case. One has only to look at the penalty provided —a fine of £50 or six months' imprisonment —to see the attitude of the Legislature on the matter. They view it, as it is rightly viewed, as a .very serious offence. In this case there does not seem to have been any attempt at baby-farming—nothing . more, ■, indeed., than good-hearted consideration for the child.and its mother—but still; there is a breach of the law and it; must be clearly understood that the Department will: not tolerate- any euch breach in future.'? ..-:: , ■ •