THE CHILD WELFARE ACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 17

THE CHILD WELFARE ACT

Sir, —I am sorry that "Social Worker" is hiding behind a nom-de-pluine. According to established law no person shall bo proceeded against without a definite charge in writing. This is British justice. The Child Welfare Act does not provide such protection. In anv case, if a child comes before a Children's Court on any charge, the j full history of himself and family is prepared by the Child Welfare Department to present to the magistrate. If hy any chance that child appears again at some later date before the Court, the department have his history in their files for reference. What is that hut a record of the charge? Under this Act, if a child is committed to the State it is always until he is 21 years of age. Then,* on the State ward attaining the age of 21 years, the Act 'empowers a magistrate to issue an order extending the period of control by terms of four years. This may be done on the opinioii of the superintendent that it is desirable to retain the inmate under his control. Let us compare this section of our Act with the : English ''Children's and Young Peri sons' Act." One sub-section reads: ; "Every (committal) order shall remain I in force until he or she attains the i age of 18 years." Another reads: "If extension of time is advised by managers of board, the Secretary of State ; may consent to detain a child who has j reached the age of 15 years for a ; further period not exceeding six I months, and not in any case extejul- ! ing beyond the date on which he at- : tains the age of 39 years. As our New ! Zealand Act stands, power is given to ' a department to virtually condemn a : State ward to imprisonment for life. If, at 21 vears of age, a ward is ' mentallv unfit to take his place in the world, then he should be placed in a suitable iinstitution. He should certainly ! not be detained in a children's home, i We find some interesting figures in the I official report of the Child Welfare ; branch for the vear ended March, 1934. j Tt shows that o.it- of a total of 4277 j children under control, yonnfi persons ! over school age in employment number j ]175, consisting of 745 males and 4.50 | females. Out of these, it is stated that 127 bovs and girls are being partly maintained by the State, which leaves 1048 presumably self-supporting. Or ; these, 858 are in situations, and a mini- j ber are residing with friends. After ! pavment to them of the small amount ; of' pocket-money allowed, and deduc- j tion of the cost of their clothing, the i balance is being saved for them by j the department, to be paid to them j on or after discharge at the discretion ; of the superintendent. \\ ith over 100 b i voung people earning wages and self ; supporting, it is, obvious that the j department must be receiving on trust | for them several thousands of pounds , annuallv. No statement at all is made ; in the' report of the amount of in- | mates' sav.ngs, although reference is j made to an amount of Refund of inmates' earnings, £698. The num- J ber of inmates discharged from con- ■ trol for various reasons during the year | is stated to be 526, including 31 who j have attained the age of 21 years. The amount paid out, £698, cannot represent their total savings, and must also cover any payments to wards who have alreadv been "discharged, and whose applications for some of their inone.v have been approved by the mipermtendent. If a State ward dies before reach- | ing the age of 21 years, or if he cannot j be found, any monev standing to his credit mav be paid into the Consolidated Fund. Many children who are committed to the State are victims of j misfortune or destitution. Most ojvthern j have very poor parents, a widowed j mother or an unmarried mother, j Wherever possible, the parents pay to- j ward their child's support. Under j British law even the next of kin of ! murderers, convicts, and mental defectives are recognised as rightful heirs. As far back as history takes US, personal property has been protected, but the Child Welfare Act defies constitutional law. N. M. Moleswobth.