EPIDEMIC ORPHAN

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 166, 10 June 1919, Page 5

EPIDEMIC ORPHAN

DEPUTATION ASKS BETTER ;:' TREATMENT. , . ,

A"" deputation from organisations interested in social .questions waited pa til© Minister for Education^ .(the, Hon. J." A, Hanan) ' at Ihniedm on THursday1 regarding the position or children left orphans hy the influenza epidemic. . :•,■■.*,,,, The Rev. King explained that }\Q Midncv could be -obtained, for the sup];<>rb Or" these children unless they had; been noinina.lly committed to an industrial school. He said that very ■strong'resentment, was felt that- these. clildxeii had to be committed simply because their parents died. The 'speaker said it was surely scandalous that even, in cases where the relatives did not ask the Government lor anytlring. the Sta'ce still had power to take children away: Mr King suggested that ordinary guardianship be made' simpler and. less expensive, or it should be vested in such a society as tho Pl-esbyterian Social vServicc Association, in local committees, or the Public Trustee. The Minister said the committal to iridustrial..sclio,p3s was only nominal, as the children did not Actually g<> to schools.' H©, hoped the procedure would be. altered .at next is^ssion. He 'had to use the existing' machinery, although he ,did .not like it. The Public^Trustee"had power, and had asked the Education Department to iindertake the work. He promised to see what he could do to have the law improved.