THE TRUANT OFFICER AND MEDICAL PRACTrTIONERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13483, 24 July 1907, Page 2

THE TRUANT OFFICER AND MEDICAL PRACTrTIONERS.

AN ALLEGATION.

"I would again draw your attention to the manner in which parents will beat the Act," said tfie Truant Inspector reporting to last night's meeting of the Education Board. "A child was reported, for playing truant and, the parent being an old offender, I issued a summons. The afternoon before this was returnable at 4.30 the daughter called at my house and asked if I could not withdraw the case, as they had no excuse to offer ajndf did not want the father to know about the summons. My reply was that the cade was in the hands of the Council and I could do nbthing in the matter. Next morning the parent (father) appeared at the Court and presented a doctor's certificate that the child had been ill in that particular week. It appears to me now that it is a ve^y easy matter for a parent to. go and give a doctor 7s 6d and get a certificate, I consider it is time that this matter was\ laid, before the Minister for Education." Mr Faull proposed that the question should he referred to the Minister for Education. Mr Morton said the Board ought to make enquiries before sending on any such resolution. Several members endorsed his opinion and Mr Tisch characterised it as an isolated case. It was* pointed out that this impres sion-'was wrong. It was not by any means an isolated" base. Such occurrences had been previously reported to the Board, and it was time the matter was properly looked into. Mr Monkhouse did not agree with Mr Faull's proposal. There was an inference that doctors would give a certificate in cases where d|nldren< had not been ill, and this he did not believe. The Truant Officer's report inferred that the doctor referred to had issued

a certificate for illness where no illness 'existed. In many cases he was of opinion that medical practitioners were justified in giving certificates after a child ihad recovered. Children were kept at ! home for minpr jj&etees in wtyeh cases parents did not, go. to' fcjie trouble and ] bother of getsijsg> a deirti^te. They j thought no more pt jt- until the sumj mons was served on thenVand then they went to the doctor »nd " procured his | certificate, he, of course, knowing of the ( illness. „ ; Mr Trimble said parents had no right . to complain .if they were prosecuted af- | ter one of these minor illnesses as they should know that exemption certifi cates were obtainable for such maladies as measles and whooping cough without having to go to a doctor. Mr Adlana mqved tjhiat. the. Chairman and Mr Tisoh should . make inquiries into the matter. Mr Morrison seconded. , Th

ere ttas no seconder to Mr Faull's motion.

Mr Faull asked if the Truant Inspector issued summonses -and , all x the parents obtained' these certificate's, saying nothing, about, thejn^ until they appeared before the Magistrate, who was going to keep paying, the costs?, , - , Mr Monkhouse said he did not think a case had been made out for inquiry, and, as an inquiry would imply 4oubt, he opposed the proposal. The Board should not cast a slur on' the' doctors by holding such, an inquiry. .. .. Mr Morrison pointed out ' that his reason for seconding the motion was just the very opposite to what Mr Monkhouse implied. The question had been discussed fn open Board and was therefore public property, and the course proposed would give the medical man referred to particularly an oppor tunity of explaining. The motion was carried. .