HARSH LAW.

Western Star, 5 December 1933, Page 3

HARSH LAW.

SONS AGAINST FATHER. POIGNANT COURT SCENE. SYDNEY, November 23,

A poignant court scene in Melbourne, when two boys, aged 12 and 14, ■ were called by the Crown to give evidence against their father, has given rise to many protests, and in Sydney it has been asked whether the law has committed a great crime against society than the man, who was found guilty of having four counterfeit florins in his possession; His conviction rested mainly on the evidence of his sons, for the vounger of them, a serious, well-spoken lad, told the court that he found pieces of lead in the backyard at his home, and they bore the impression- of the face of a florin. ’ , . After the son bad given his evidence the father was asked in the usual way whether lie had any questions to ask. Speaking with difficulty, and addressing the judge, he said i “It is very hard to have to question: your own son, but I would like to ask a couple of questsoni.’' He turned to the boy and addressed him as “Son,” but he could gen no ' further.-' The'boy left the box in tears. His brother then gave similar evidence,. and the ; father asked several questions. Then this boy also burst into tears, and the father broke dowa. Tho man was subsequently found guilty. A law which allows boys to be cal.euiuto court in such circumstances lias been roundly condemned, and it is hoped in some quarters that the outcry v have the effect .of inducing the government so to amend the legislation that such a thing Will not occur again. Dr A. H. Martin, duector of the Australian Institute of Industrial Psycholo»y, said it would have been better to let the evidence go by default. ■ Both boys were at a very impressionable age, and their experience would cause them a severe mental shook. They might feel that they were bonded, leading to-an inferiority complex which m ght ruin the whole of their lives. In caUing Buch evidence the law considered only the offence and not the ultimate effect on society. He added that » to 60 percent, of cases of. criminality were caused by broken homes. •Others have maintained that the future of the two boys was of much gre importance than the punishment of the (Xcr. A cliurch todcr .a.d * be a good thing for society if there was a carefully framed law which would prevent a child from giving eVld £*® against its parents. He believed th.ro was such a law in England, and Aus tralia should certainly follow the example. Barristers agreed an unpleasant sight at any time to see children In court and a very unpieasant thing to have to cross-examine themOne could only slightly imagine tbe teel ings of a father, provided he was not a hardened criminal, who had to ques i his own son. If they were closely attaclied it would be a tremendous shock to both. The hoy would not easily forget, and it was a pity that the law should treat him so, oven if justice had to he served.