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Grey River Argus, 21 June 1944, Page 2

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view of Education the 1 <• Mason, states that reMMBMM^Myre cent case of violence, in lad a ward of the involved, may have given impression amona the pubthe care taken by the Child ■Mfc Branch in the. placement of “I feel” the Minister adds the statement made by the Mr. J. R. McClune, the coroner’s inquest should be known to the public.” Mr. McClune stated that the young Maori was in the Department’s Training Institution for several months, and during that time there was nothing whatever in his general behaviour to indicate that he would resort to acts of extreme violence. Although he responded fairly well there he was considered less likely to benefit from extended > training in an institution than by placement with a suitable employer. The lad’s employer who had done very well with other boys was regarded as an ideal one for this uoy. Experience had proved that the great majority of children, including those who have committed offences, responded best to placement in a good home and the Department takes every care in making such placements. At the same time m any scheme devised by man it. was almost inevitable that some, failures

were likely to occur. “During the past five years” continued Mr. McClune,. “twelve State wards were found guilty of acts of violence. Five of these were sent to Borstal and the remainder returned over to the Department's care. Three of these made excellent recoveries, and the remaining four are progressing satisfactorily On the other hand, during the same period seven children not previously in our care were committed to us by the Courts for having been guilty of acts of violence. ■ Six of these children have responded well to friendly guidance and supervision. “There are about eleven hundred wards in employment at present. During the past five years there have been about two thousand three hundred placements of these young people—including those, in farm situations. Nearly half of these have been discharged with good records and the balance with a very few exceptions are doing well. Only four per cent., of the total number have failed to make good in that period. “In addition to State wards there are some thirteen hundred children under supervision of Child Welfare Officers by orders of Court, and a large number of these are in situations under the guidance of the Welfare Officers. “Considering that there are over four thousand State wards regularly under our care (with accretions and discharges of about six hundred cases respectively every year) it will be seen that the percentage of these who have been guilty of acts of violence is comparatively small. “The adolescent period is a time of great changes in the child. During this period some children, including those who are not mentally backward, have committed acts of violence which could not be anticipated. The earlier training of the child has special significance during this period of th? child’s growth. In dealing with the anti-social acts of children it is found in the final summing up that everything goes back to the home control and training. In many homes to-day there is unfortunately a lack of the desired moral training and discipline for children. Apart from this it seems hardly necessary to make reference to the highly .abnormal conditions existing to-day—affecting as they do the whole social structure. “The whole object of Child Welfare Legislation is reformative and not punitive, although this is not to say that punishment is eliminated by the Department in dealing with its wards. This is often disciplinary in character including loss of privileges,etc. The Department’s experience is that the best results, with few exceptions, can be obtained by eliminating a bridge—namely the institution —between the Court, and the foster home. Many a boy who started off with a bad record made good when given a decent chance. Some hundreds of these are away defending our liberty to-day. “If as a result of a certain agitation following this or other cases the Dept, han to revert to the use of institutional treatment it would he to the ultimate detriment of large numbers of children who arc now receiving the benefit of the des’red home influence and training. To do so would be a distinctly retrograde step in view of the success which has attended the placing-out system during- the past half century. “I make this statement in fairness above all to the children themselves who nearly all respond so well in the right environment; to the Department; and to the big-hearted bony of men and women who, as fosterparents or employers, have helped to .provide for these children that which is the birth-right of every child, namely the affection and security provided in a well-ordered home.”