CHILDREN’S COURTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 15

CHILDREN’S COURTS.

AN OBVIOUS DEFECT. POLICE ATMOSPHERE REMAINS. AUCKLAND, May 27. An obvious detect in connection with the Children’s Courts is pointed out by the Star. The paper says that the transfer of the court from the Police Court buildings to the I.M.C.A. building was in order to take the proceedings eway from the atmosphere of the Police Court, but in that respect it has been a failure. It is in fact rather worse. Uniformed policemen congregate outside the building some time before the court opens, and when they enter the place they are are to be seen on the landing and in various rooms reserved for the court. A sergeant of police sits at the table with the magistrate, and two constables stand at the doors. When the children are called a policeman meets them and escorts them into the room, always in a manner extremely kind anil gentle; but, nevertheless, he is a policeman and in uniform. That is sufficient to frighten any child from the very start. Officials of the Welfare League and Various receiving homes, who have their places at the magistrate’s table, never smile and never give any encouragement to the little children who thoughtlessly may have done some wrong, and have been brought to the bar of justice, when- justice would better be served with a smile and without a policeman. The paper remarks that the children stand before the magistrate and his associate trembling, while the sergeant of police or the welfare officer tells of their ’crimes.’’ They know they have done wrong, or if they don’t, they know that a policeman is a man who can take them off to prison. Yet the police assemble in force and bring home more forcibly the fact that the Children's Ciurt is after all but a court of law instead of a place where justice is meted oat without the children being terrified by the blue uniforms of the guardians o f the law. The public is ever curious, and when policemen are seen walking into a reputable I.M.C.A. building, much speculation is rife as to the reason. It is only in the Children's Court where the atmosphere of the Police Court is eaid to be non-existent, but visitors would find it to bo quite the contrary It is more a Police Court than ever it was, and is a grave reflection on the undoubtedly good work that this court could do if held under entirely diffcient and rnoro humane conditions.