Changes In Supervision Of State Wards

Press, Volume C, Issue 29588, 10 August 1961, Page 14

Changes In Supervision Of State Wards

(New Zealand Pfess Association)

WELLINGTON, August 9. Some of the powers of the Superintendent of Child Welfare over wards of the State are removed by a Child Welfare Amendment Bill introduced in th? House of Representatives today. The bill also makes youthful traffic offenders liable to adult penalties in open court, instead of being dealt with by the Children’s Court In eases where imprisonment may result the Children's Court will continue to have jurisidiction. The intention of this clause was explained by the Minister in charge of the Child Welfare Division (Mr Shelton) in

these words: “If children are old enough to commit traffic offences, then they can pay fines in the same way as adults do." . Parents or guardians will have the right to ask the Children’s Court, 12 months after the Court has committed the child to the care of the Superintendent of Child Welfare. to review the committal order. Similarly» an order placing a child under the supervision of a child welfare officer will be capable of review after 12 months, or after three months if the order provided for detention in an institution When a child has been placed under the supervision of a welfare officer the Court may order that the supervision cease and the child be placed on probation when he readies the age of 17. A welfare officer may also apply to the Court to have a supervision order changed to one of probation. The purpose of these amendments. Mr Shelton said, was “to prevent a troublesome 17-year-old from thumbing his nose with impunity at the supervising officer.”

Licensing Bill (NX Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 9. A Licensing Amendment Bill, containing a number of improvements, was being irepared and would be introduced during the present session in time to allow the House to give it full consideration. said the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) in a written reply to a question by Mr A. McCready (Government, Otaki) today.