CHILD WELFARE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 17 July 1925, Page 7

CHILD WELFARE

AN IMPORTANT BILL THti ST ATI; *\ND UN'UOirUUNtVIT!. CM IS J) RE iff (From our Parliamentary Correspondent). WELLINGTON. This Day. I'lie Government has brought down an important Bill dealing with child welfare. In an outline of the Bill, Sir James Parr said the object of it was primarily to put the special schools on a proper footing. There had hern no legislation since 1882. dealing with industrial schools and all the functions of dealing with them had been carried out hv the Special Schools Branch. It was obvious that the time had come tor the House to give the activities ot this branch some attention. In the first place, they sought to change the mime from the Special Schools Branch to that of the Child Welfare Department. The former was singularly inappropriate at tlm present day. as’the Department's Work related to the deal and dumb and m i tit all v a hnorma 1.

I’m- Special Schools Department had charge of 370 boys and girls, but its activities were not confined to these, as they controlled over 5000 children in New Zealand. It dealt with the neglected orphan and delinquent children, children who were getting out ol parental control and who needed the intervention of someone. It was time that legislation put it. on a proper footing. '1 hey had 1000 infants under 12 months of age who were in (he care of the State. Most ot these were, unfortunately illegitimate. There were 2000 from till ages trout all tiges from babyhood to 16 years ot age hoarded out in foster homes selected by the Department and very stringently supervised by it. I hese loster parents reel ived 16 - per week for the children. Originally, in place of these homes, there were institutions such as Burnham and they were most undesirable. I hese had been reduced by 85 per cent. He was pleased to say. provided that they could get satisfactory foster parents, this system was much better. Ihe homes where the children wire hoarded out were thoroughly inspected every year, a surprise visit being paid to it: moreover, the. children went to school and wi re given a chance in life. There were 100 children from 15 to 21 and finally about 1100 delinquent children who had actually been belore th(> Court. 'I hese were to he tonnd in such places as the \\ crania I raining Farm.

Under the Act- the expenditure would be about £105.000 per year. Against this would be a credit ot recovery from parents, of about £28.000 to £30,000 per year. The Department followed up the parents of every child very closely. No additional expenditure was eontemplat-

'l'lie Principal provision in the Bill was thi> creation of children's courts. This was easily one ot tin; most important- steps taken for years. At the present time there was no provision tor dealing with children who committed offences against- file law. The police brought them before a Magistrate in tilt! ordinary way. The Bill dealt with them on the principle that they required direction and guidance. For this purpose, special magistrates would be appointed, special courts held and special officers would take charge of the children and they would tie dealt with altogether away from the court atmosphere. The desirability ot having a woman referee in the court, one. having special knowledge, and experience-sit-'ting as a colleague and adviser of the magistrate was recognised. This would he of immense service. Under the present, system, every child committed to an industrial home had the principal of the home constituted its statutory guardian. Tlie Bill changed that and places the guardianship in the proper hands of the head of the Department. Special arrangements had been made for the four Catholic homes in the Dominion and no alteration in procedure affecting these homes would be made. There was, however, a provision that all illegitimate births would be required to be notified to the head of the Child Welfare Department. He confessed doubt as to Luis clause, but he had been assured by his officers d hat there was double the mortality in these cases and that, notification was absolutely necessary. Therefore though he had hesitated over the matter, which was one of great delicacy, he had acted as was suggested. The mortality rate among illegitimate children under 12 months was 100 per cent, 'higher than among legitimate children. There was something radically wrong with the upbringing of these children, as their parents a-ere healthy. It was proposed to deni by regulation with the question of children engaged on the streets in trade. He had been given the opinion that children allowed to escape without- proper supervision, found their way to the courts m more than half the cases. 'They would deni with these cases as they arose. There would lie provision for feeble minded children, and the Departments which now had the work of looking after these children, would hand it over to the Minister of Mental llos pi t a Is.