LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 215, 25 August 1927, Page 5

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

A SHORT SITTING. CHILD WELFARE ACT. Wellington, Aug. 25. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. A select committee consisting of Sir James Allen, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Sir W. Hall Jones, and the Hons. E. Newman, V. H. Reed and G. J. Smith was set up to act with representatives of the House on a joint committee to consider the question of improvements to shipping facilities between South Island ports and Australia. The Hon. M. Cohen asked the Leader of the Council whether the Government will this session amend the Reformatory Institutions Act by empowering stipendiary magistrates to commit to reformatory institutions any girl over 14 who has been convicted of an offence and whose general conduct, in the opinion of the presiding magistrate, has been such that she requires discipline and restraint. Sir Francis Bell replied that the amendment suggested will have consideration. The Hon. M. Cohen asked a further question in respect to an improvement to the Child Welfare Act, and Sir Francis Bell replied that it was considered there was ample provision in the Act already for limiting the number of persons in attendance at children’s courts, and also foj prohibiting altogether, if necessary, the publication of proceedings. The Act allowed magistrates to use their discretion, and it was found that in the majority of cases they did not favour publication of any kind. It was not consdiered necessary to legislate on the question whether police should appear in uniform. The Child Welfare Bill now before the House, he said, provided for the issue of regulations governing proceedure in children’s courts, and as the Department was anxious that the procedure be simplified and that magistrates should have power to deal with most cases, no doubt the question of the attendance of police in any guise whatever would be discussed by the departments concerned.

The Council adjourned at 2.37 p.m. until to-morrow.