TRIVIAL OFFENCES

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1926, Page 6

TRIVIAL OFFENCES

CASES AGAINST CHILDREN. The practice of bringing very small children before the court for more or Jess trivial offences was commented upon by Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., in the Children’s Court at Auckland on Saturday. A boy, aged eight, was charged with stealing a number of instruments from a school laboratory. It vyas stated that when the instruments were missed the matter was put in the hands of the police, who discovered the boy had takers them. Mr. Cutten said he thought far too many cases of this type were coming before the court. The boy had taken the instruments because they were bright and had caught his childish fancy. He had no idea of their value and no intention of stealing. The magistrate added he had given instructions that the boy should not be brought before the court. Someone should have the right to use discretion in these matters and this was a case where it should have been employed. Mrs. N. E. Ferner, associate member of the court, said she quite agreed with what Mr. Cutten had said. A number of eases came before the court in which very young children were charged with offences. It would be a great deal better if they could be dealt with in sorne more simple way.