DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13664, 30 May 1908, Page 2

DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

ADOPTION Of CHILDREN.

. Per Press Association. - AUCKLAND, May 29. , An important ruling watf given by Mr. C. O. Kettle, S.M., to-day respeoting the adoption of children. A girl mother wished the Court to grant an application that her child should be adopted by a woman who had expressed willingness to foster it. The point at issue was that where the Act aays. that the parents of the child shall agree to any application for adoption. The S.M. held that the word "parents'* included the parents of an illegitimate child, and that in all oases it would be necessary to show that the putative father consented to the adoption or that he had deserted the child, whilst the solicitor for the applicants contended that in the case of illegitimate children neither of the objections raised by his Worship applied. His Worship refused to grant the application until he had been convinced that the father had consented to the application or deserted and thus shirked nis- responsibility. The Court, his Worship said, would do what it considered best for the child. The poin^ being pressed, hiß Worship said that % would ask Mr. Justice Edwards to give a ruling. "X you are right," replied the applicant's lawyer, "all the other rulings are wrong, and if all those orders are bad all those children who are supposed to be adopted are not adopted." His Worship agreed that it was a very serious question.