CHILD WELFARE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 105, 30 October 1931, Page 13

CHILD WELFARE

AN INTERESTING ADDRESS

Mr. If. A. Wright, M.P., in speaking at the annual meeting of the Society for tho Protection of Women and Children last evening, showed to what extent tho Dominion is taring for backward or sub-normal children. Mr. Wright mentioned the largeness of tho sums of money involved in the care and teaching of these children, and said that if tho expenses were still further increased, sib urged by a section of people who wished a now Department created for them, the system might break down, for the Dominion could not stand such a. heavy demand in one direction. Other services must inevitably suffer if inoro money was allocated to this branch of work.

Mr. Wright said there were three classes of children whom the State had to care for—delinquent children, backward children, and healthy children who had lost or had been neglected by their parents. WhiJe a good number of subnormal children came before tho Courts, it had to bo remembered that our modern mode of life might havo something to do with sending children off tho straight and narrow path. It was far harder now to bring up boys and girls in a correct atmosphere than it was forty or fifty years ago. The system of boarding-out was proving a great success. The Dominion was doing a great deal to educate defective children in tlu Blind Institute and other institutions. The State was also called upon to deal "with children who wore orphans or neglected. Irresponsible parents had much to do with throwing children upon the care of tho State. Much was being done iv the care of backward children. There were 31 special classes, containing 48-1 pupils, and tliere were also special schools for boys and girls under the direction of the Children's Welfare Department. Tho children were classified according to their mental ability.

Mr. T. 13. M'Neil, S.M., added a few appreciative words concerning the work of the Protection Society at the Courts, and said that the Magistrates had recently agreed that they would afford less opportunity for idle listeners at the Monday Courts, as so earnestly requested by the society. (Applause.)