Family unit ‘basic’ in bill on children

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33675, 26 October 1974, Page 3

Family unit ‘basic’ in bill on children

{New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 25. The Children and Young Persons Bill was one of the most important social welfare bills introduced in New Zealand this century, the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr King) said in Parliament today.

The Minister was proposing- the second read-| ing of the bill, which re-1 writes most childwelfare legislation. “Children are those under 14, and young persons are those over 14 and under 17,” said Mr King. “The effect of this distinction is to make it clear in law that the care and protection of children under 14 is primarily the responsibility of their parents, while those over 14 must share with their parents a fair amount of responsibility for their own actions and behaviour.” Mr King said a prime aim of the bill was to keep children away from the courtroom. It set out many preventive measures, and made it clear that the family unit should be regarded as basic. If a child committed an offence, he would first appear before a children’s board, instead of the Children’s Court as at present. “I would expect that only a small minority of children will go on to a court from the board, and then only where drastic action is essential to protect the child,” said Mr King. The new children’s boards would not be judicial bodies, and every effort would be made to ensure that board hearings were as informal as possible. A board would have a report from the social worker or policeman concerned with the case. It might also initiate its own inquiries and obtain reports from the police, social workers, Maori welfare officers, teachers, doctors, or others. It might then counsel the child or his parents, arrange for treatment, or recommend that a complaint be made on the ground the child was in need of care, protection, or control, said the Minister. The board would also be able to arrange counselling

I or treatment for parents or guardians. | If a complaint were | lodged, it would be heard by a Children and Young Persons Court. Any statements made to the board would be privileged, and not used in court. Mr King said he hoped that it would eventually be possible to have magistrates appointed to the court with experience in dealing with young people, and to exercise jurisdiction solely in that court. The bill imposed on the court the important new duty of explaining the proceedings and charges to the child, or young person, and, if necessary, to his parents or guardians. Mr King said the bill would require the appointment of more social work-

1 ers, but approval had recently been given to his 1 department to employ an ' additional 65 persons. The Opposition spokesman : on Social Welfare, Mr T. F. • Gill (East Coast Bays), said that he welcomed better welfare measures, but he I hoped the responsibilities of - the family would have been spelled out much more i strongly in the bill. i The bill contained a complex disciplinary mechanism,, but there was not enough about preventive work. The “guts” of the billj ■ needed strengthening so that' social welfare staff were; : given the powers and means ,to carry out measures ; needed to correct existing problems, said Mr Gill. I The debate was inter- ■ rupted when the House ■ adjourned at 4 p.m.