CHILD WELFARE

Evening Star, Issue 19613, 20 July 1927, Page 11

CHILD WELFARE

CONSTITUTION GF COURTS WIDER POWERS FOR JUSTICES [FROM Our PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.] < WELLINGTON, July 19. The Child Welfare Amendment Bill, introduced by Governor’s Message this would make it compulsory for institutions such as orphanages privately conducted to be registered, and the superintendent and other authorised officers of the child welfare branch of the Education Department have the rirdit of inspection at all times. The Minister of Education is empowered to require the controlling authority of any children’s home to undertake structural alterations which he may consider necessary to ensure the safety or wellbeing of children, and, subject to the right of appeal to a magistrate, the Minister may cancel the registration of a homo if' the requisition is not carried out or if the conduct of tho home is unsatisfactory. Tho manager of a children’s home is given the same powers and responsibilities (other than guardianship) as tho superintendent of tho child welfare branch. Amy agreement for the payment of maintenance made between a manager and a parent or guardian may be registered m the Magistrate’s Court and be enforceable ns if made under the Destitute Persons Act.

Au important clause is contained in part 11. of the Bill, under which ihfsrtnations charging children with trivial offences may he discharged by a magistrate without being hoard in court. There will be no record of such matter in court. “So far as practicable, persona attending any sittings of a children’s court shall not bo brought into contact with persons in attendance at any other court, and for this purpose sittings of children’s courts not, except in cases where no other suitable room is available, be held in any room in which any oljter court ordinarily exercises jurisdiction; nor shall a sitting of a children’s court, if held in the same premises as any other, be held at a time when such other court is sitting, if such other arrangements can reasonably be made.” The purpose of clause 20 is to remove doubts that have been expressed aS to the scope of children’s courts. The clause provides: (1) That justices sitting in a children’s court have tho same jurisdiction as if they were sitting in am ordinary court; (2) in any matter before them in a children’s court they have all tho powers which they ordinarily have, and may .dismiss an information, commit for trial or sentence, commit to the Borstal, or admit to probation; (3) in any matter before them, whether am indictable offence or not, justices can exercise the special power conferred by the principal Act, and can commit a child to tho care of the superintendent.

In an explanatory memorandum it is stated that it may be suggested that the powers conferred, as mentioned in the latter paragraph, should be limited in their application, and that with respect to more serious charges, if a prima facie case is’ established against a. child, he should be required to stand his trial in the Supreme Court. In answer to this it may bo said that the persons exercising jurisdiction are specially selected for their work, and may reasonably be trusted to exercise a proper discretion.