ALLEGED SEXUAL OFFENCES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27404, 17 July 1954, Page 2

ALLEGED SEXUAL OFFENCES

MORE PROSECUTIONS IN HUTT VALLEY (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 16. Seven children have so far been dealt with in the Children’s Court at Lower Hutt as a result of the present police investigation into alleged sexual offences among children in the Hutt Valley. Mr W. H. Carson, S.M., released this information today. The Magistrate said that a substantial number of children remained to be dealt with. As a result of the same investigation, nine defendants, all males, have appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Lower Hutt. Two were dealt with summarily, three committed to the Supreme Court for trial (each plead-, ing not guilty), and four were referred to the Children’s Court. Of the five youths dealt with in the Magistrate’s Court or sent for trial, one was aged 20, one 19, and three 18. The Magistrate said today that he would refer to the Children’s Court all defendants under 18 years of age. At the end of this week’s hearing in the Magistrate’s Court, it was understood that no further information had been laid against defendants old enough to appear in the Magistrate’s Court.

INQUIRY IN 1951 RETIRED MAGISTRATE’S COMMENTS (New Zealand Press Association) WANGANUI, July 16. To bring children of tender years before a Commission of Inquiry where they might be subjected to. crossexamination and suggestion would leave an indelible scar upon their minds and do incalculable harm. This statement was made by Mr J. H. Salmon, retired Stipendiary Magistrate, today. Mr Salmon was appointed by the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) in 1951, when he was a magistrate, to inquire into allegations of immoral conduct among Hutt school children. His report, which was not made available for publication, said that the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act was "not justified. Mr Salmon said he did not want to say anything in reply to critics of his report which might embarrass the Minister, but as a private citizen he wished to point out that there was a tendency to put the blame on schools when the responsibility actually rested in the home. Undesirable literature was not to be obtained in schools, said Mr Salmon. When it did come there it was very often brought from the home. “One does not extinguish a fire, even a small fire, by throwing open the doors and windows to the cross draughts,” he added.