TRIVIAL OFFENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19503, 6 December 1926, Page 14

TRIVIAL OFFENCES.

CASES AGAINST CHILDREN. SIMPLER PROCEDURE NEEDED. COMMENTS BY MAGISTRATE. The practice of bringing very small children before the Court for more or less trivial offences was commented upon by Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., in, the Children's Court on Saturday, A boy, aged eight, was charged with stealing a number of instruments from a school laboratory. It was stated that when the instruments were missed the matter was put in the hands of the police, who discovered the boy had taken them. Mr. Cutten said ho thought far too many cases of this type were coming before tho Court. The boy had taken the instrument because they were, bright and had caught his childish fancy. He had no idea of their value and no intention of stealing. The magistrate added ho had given instructions that tho boy' should not be brought before the Court. Someone should have the right to use discretion in these matters and this was a case where it should have been employed. Mrs. N. E. Ferner, associate member of tho Court, said she quite agreed with what Mr. Cutten had said. A number of cases came before the C oul 't which very young children were charged with offences. It would bo a great deal better if they could bo dealt with in some more simple way.