CHILD WELFARE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 July 1925, Page 5

CHILD WELFARE

BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE

SPECIAL COURTS PROPOSED

HOMES REPLACING INSTITUTIONS

FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER WELLINGTON, July 16

In the House of Representatives today .the Minister for Education (Sir James Parr) introduced a Child Welfare Bill, the object of which is primarily to put the Special Schools branch of the Education Department on a proper footing. About 1000 infants under twelve months, mostly illegitimate, were, said the Minister, under the care of the State having either been deserted or handed over. Two thousand children from babyhood to the age of 16 years were hoarded out in other homes, which had been found a far better method than the old system of keeping them in institutions, the populations of which had now been reduced 85 per cent. There were 1200 delinquent children who had actually come before the Courts, who were on training farms or in institutions. The expenditure on all these children was £105,000 annually, but from £20,000 to £30,000 was received from parents in payment for maintenance. No additional expenditure was contemplated by the measure, which created a Superintendent and Deputy-Superintendent of Child Welfare. . . . The most important provision in the Bill was for the establishment of children’s courts, which would do away with the present necessity of bringing delinquent or uncontrolled children h®fore a magistrate by the police in the ordinary way. Special magistrates would be appointed, there being already in the'magistracy men well qualified for dealing with these children m places such as a probationary home where the atmosphere of the Police Court would he entirely ruled out. A child could be brought up bv an experieneed welfare officer instead of by a policeman, and the magistrate would have the assistance of a skilled and experienced Indy, who, says the Bill, mav sit with him as referee. . Street trading may be dealt with by regulation.