WELFARE OF A BOY

Northern Advocate, 23 March 1925, Page 4

WELFARE OF A BOY

BOARDING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE HOME ENVIRONMENT DETRI-

MENTAL

The case in which Marguerite Roye Millar (Mr Briggs proceeded against Andrew Barry Miller (Mr Carruth) foe faifure to maintain a 13 year-old son, who resided with his mother and sister in Whangarei, was called again before Mr R. W. Tate, S. M., at the Whangarei Magistrate's Court this morning.

A fortnight ago, after hearing medical testimony regarding the health of the child and the advisability of his living again with his father at Maungakaramea and attending a school two miles away, the Magistrate had ordered an adjournment in the hope that the parties might come to some agreement meanwhile.

The evidence.,of_ one medical witness had been that the boy's health was such that a walk of four miles a day would have a tendency to make the day too long for him, with consequent loss of too much energy and detriment to his health.

The father had never ill-used the boy and could see no reason why he should not go to school, as he had bought a bicycle for liim.

Another medical witness considered that it. would probably do the boy a lot, of good to walk, his opinion being that the lad was spoilt, and was luuPy in need of proper control. When he suggested a boarding school, the lad's sister had objected that it would bo too hard for him. The boy was living in an atmosphere of hysteria with his sister and mother and was bound to develop a certain amount of it.

This morning Mr Carruth explained that there had been no agreement reached, but respondent wished his wife ami children to return home to Maun gait avamea.

The Magistrate stated that it appeared that the boy was living in the actual custody of his mother and sister, but legally his father had custody. It was undesirable for the child to be brought up in a state of hysteria, ami children must not be allowed to suffer through the squabbles between their parents. The proper course, he was convinced, was that the boy should not be sent away to a boarding school where he would be brought up in a proper atmosphere and would be properly treated. The keynote of the whole thing was the welfare of tlie boy who should be properly controlled and disciplined.

The Magistrate made an order against the father for maintenance, which order would not be enforced unless the child was sent to a boardingschool to be approved by the Probation Officer, Mr D. McCarroli. He could not make an order for more than 21s per week, but if the boarding school cost more lie looked to the father to pay the difference. No order was made in regard to payment of costs.