Whipping for Child Delinquents

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 101, 20 July 1927, Page 1

Whipping for Child Delinquents

AMENDMENTS TO LAW A CONTROVERSIAL CLAUSE (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Additional powers for the inspection of private orphanages is given by the Child Welfare Bill, introduced into the House of Representatives to-night and read the first time. The Hon. R. A. Wright, Minister of Education, said that the need for this had been long apparent. The Bill gave authorities in these institutions added powers for control of delinquent children, and also entitles them to collect money from the parents of children in institutions. All the institutions which had been approached had agreed to the amendments proposed, and Mr: Wright did not anticipate dissension on the Bill. The second phase of the Bill provides for children’s courts to be distinct and gives a magistrate power to deal with indictable offences, strengthening powers of magistrates generally in children’s courts. The only clause likely to cause dissension was one giving magistrates power to order a mild whipping. This might be discussed a little. Mr. H. E. Holland: It will. Mr. R. E. McKeen: Children do not look upon thrashings as mild. The Bill was read the first time.