A GRAVE INJUSTICE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16424, 7 May 1924, Page 3

A GRAVE INJUSTICE.

NAMES ON THE CRIMES REGISTER

PROTEST FROM COOK COUNTY

WOMEN'S GUILD

At tlie last meeting of the Cook County Women's Guild attention was drawn to a grave injustice to charges of the State committed to the rare of such institutions ns the Heni Materon children’s creche at Gisborne.

A member of Parliament visited the creche, and called attention to the fact that it was the practice under the Crimes Act to enter the names of such children upon thp crimes records of the _ Dominion. lie made the following written statement :—-

“Number of children who have been committed to the State and are stiil in charge of the State, 5182: number committed lasf year, 410. Of this number 49 were tinder six months old. 23 were under one year, and 83 were under five years, or a total of 155 muler five years of age. The names of all these children were entered on the crimes register of the Police Courts when they were com mitted.’’

The Women’s Guild adopted a resolution strongly protesting against the grave injustice and calling upon Parliament to have these names expunged from the criminal records of the Dominion. The Guild is taking steps to have pressure brought upon the Governments, for the repeal of such legislation. Mr K. S. Williams, M.P., who has been interviewed; on the subject, has undertaken to see the Minister of Justice on the subject. The Mayor, Mr Wildish. Is also strongly supporting the protest from the Guild, whilst Mr W. D. Lysnar and other members of Parliament are being approached for their co-operation.