CHILD WELFARE COURTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 December 1928, Page 11

CHILD WELFARE COURTS.

PROCEEDINGS IN CAMERA

ADVISABILITY QUERIED,

Feelings of perturbation concerning the conduct and policy'of child welfare courts in the Dominion were indicated by Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., in itlie Haweira Court to-day, when, in replying to farewells voiced in view of his departure ldr Wellington, he roierred to remarks made by Mr E. Dixon, J.P., who had complimented Mr Barton on his treatment of cases in the juvenile court.

Addressing particularly the several justices of the -peace who formed a portion of the farewell gathering, Mr Barton said that, .speaking as a citizen interested in .child welfare work to the justices who- were also citizens interested in such work, he. thought that there were tendencies they should watch and think about. In the last analysis the best preventive and remedial factor in that direction woulid he a well-informed public conscience, and an intelligent and wise standard of requirements'' for youth. With this in view, lie suggested they ask themselves: “Are you satisfied that it is wise to pre-judge that in all cases, irrespective of the nature of the offence and the public interests involved, the Press should be excluded; that, irrespective of the offence, the temperament of the offender and his. attempts to incdlpate others, his name must be suppressed, and that, irrespective of the bearing of a youth of 161- years towards authority and the country’s ideate, ho must be brought into a room shorn of .all the appearance of surroundings of a courtP” He did not wish to indicate reoommenclatibns with regard to the subject, but wished that- thought shottldi be given to it by the general community. Mr Barton asked the justices whether they saw any reason to fear that the present policy might have the effect of lulling ithe public into a belief that little or no juvenile crime existed. If so it was a matter which called for serious attention,