Children’s Bd announced

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 10

Children’s Bd announced

I en days after the introduction of the new Children and Young Persons Act. the Christchurch Children's Board. an integral part of the new legislation, has been formed.

Mr J. L. Hills, the assistant director of the Social Work Division of the Department of Social Welfare in Christchurch. said yesterday that he expected the, board and members to be functioning within a fortnight. The boards were designed to keep as many children as; possible out of the courts. If; a child and his parents or' guardian admit to an alleged offence then the Children’s Board in the child’s district has the pow'er to deal with the matter without the child going to court. Under the new legislation a "child” is under 14 and a 1 young person” is of or over 14 but under 17. Members of the Christ-i

; church district board are: Senior-Sergeant J. F. Pollock, I the police representative; Miss S. Greenw'ood, the [officer from the department | of Social Welfare; Miss H. N. Daymond (deputy Mr M. Mohi), from the Department 'of Maori and Island Affairs. The fourth member of the board is taken from a panel of residents, which was announced yesterday by ■ the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr King). The panel is: Mr R. G. Mauger. of 91 Wairakei Road, Bryndwr; Mr C. T. Ford. Reader in Education, University of Canterbury: Mrs Rd Shaw. 153 Hamilton Avenue. Fendalton; Mrs M. P. Douglas. 71 Blankney Street. Hornby: Mrs N. .Johnson. 178 Bridle Path Road. Heathcote; Mrs .1. Marcon. Mount Grey Downs. Rangiora. The director of the Department of Social Welfare in Christchurch. Mr M. Lyons. , said yesterday that he did not see that the delay in setting up the boards would mean a delay in the hearing of the cases to be considered by the board. “The sort of thing that the board will handle is the sort [of thing that will stand a little delay.” said Mr Lyons.