CARE OF CHILDREN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 102, 3 May 1938, Page 2

CARE OF CHILDREN

NEED FOR REFORM IN NEW ZEALAND Speaking at a meeting in Auckland last week, on the subject of delinquent children, Mrs T. Bloodworth, a magistrate of the Children’s Court was emphatic in her statement that the people of New’ Zealand were insufficiently trained for the running ol such an institution. “When you bring a number of uniformed policemen to deal with the very young children brought before the Courts, contrary to helping,” she said, “you are laying the foundations for a life of crime and fear.” Mrs Bloodworth went on to explain how, in one Court, there were nine policemen present in one tiny room, and how the psychological attitude created by this atmosphere of law was destroying the principles of reform advocated by the Court. Mrs Bloodworth also deplored the lack of medical examination that was given to these children. “As far as I can see,” she explained, “the majority of our cases require medical treatment rather than that of the law. There is no system by which the psychological background of the child is studied, and I feel that in many cases all that the culprits need is correct nutrition and a different mental background.” “Another problem of child welfare discussed by Mrs Bloodworth was the insufficient staffing of the institutions set up to deal with cases of delinquency in children. “It is here,” she said, “that you find the untrained person in charge. There are no trained psychologists or even trained nurses to deal with the children requiring attention. The buildings themselves are insufficient for the needs of the country.” The work of the Child Welfare Association, said Mrs Bloodworth, had in consequence been based on the system of foster homes, but even then this was in many ways an inadequate way of dealing with the situation.