CHILD WELFARE ACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21937, 22 October 1934, Page 12

CHILD WELFARE ACT

Sir,—That the Child Welfare Act is imperfect in form, its provisions vague, and the powers it confers on officials dangerously wide, is admitted by magistrates, judges, lawyers and social workers, and the public are beginning to realise their responsibility in this regard. One of the chief obstacles to a proper study of the effects of the act as it now stands is the absolute secrecy which surrounds the operations of the Child Welfare Branch, and the difficulty of obtaining information in regard to State wards. Now your correspondent, "Social Worker," attempts to refute some of the criticism of the act which has been publicly made by Mrs. Molesworth. We are told that "Social Worker" has had "many years of service in the Child Welfare Branch." and in consequence, can well understand the desire to justify its actions, but I would remind "Social Worker" that an interested party cannot always be relied upon for an unbiased viewpoint. Whatever opinions may be on the provisions of the act, one fact emerges as allimportant, and that is the total absence of anv malans of appeal beyond the rulings of the Child Welfare Superintendent or his local deputy. Does a parent wish to regain custody of his child, a discharged inmate want possessjpn of his hard-earned savings, even for information as to where a child has been sent, or permission to visit, application must bp made to the Superintendent, who holds absolute authority. Children may be, indeed are, sent to far distant places without their parents being con suited, nor does the act say that they must be informed. And under no circumstances is there any appeal. A. M. Hutchinson.