CHILD WELFARE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 July 1925, Page 5

CHILD WELFARE.

DISCUSSION ON THE BILL. (by TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, July 21. The second reading of the Child Welfare Bill was moved in the House today by the Hon. Sir James Parr. In doing so he retraced the explanation given to the House when the Bill was mtroduced, again stressing the advantage of the boarding-out system for orphan children as against housing them in disciplinary institutions. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. Wilford) said all that the Minister was trying to do through the medium of a children’s court had already been done in Wellington for months past. It may be there was no legislative authority for this, but the fact remained that it was being done and the Bill would not advance matters in Wellington one bit. It was a pity we did not have women justices in. New-Zealand, for he had seen them administering justice in America and he had seen nothing but substantial justice done. He wanted to see women’s courts here, with their city mother to advise and help those in trouble. There were many cases in which women were the' only possible judges, and he regretted there was nothing of that sort in . the Bill. The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland) maintained that children’s courts should not be near an ordinary courthouse and ordinary uniformed police should not be employed about this court. He Tegretted that our legislation in connection with the mentally deficient was so backward. He wanted not only women justices appointed, but he would like to see permanent women magistrates, as there was Very special work for them to do. Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) thought the provision in the Bill that a children’s court was to he presided over by special justices and magistrates was wise. Mr W. J. Jordan (Manakau) urged that every effort he made to avoid a tendencv to treat deficient children as criminals. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Education Committee for inquiry and report.