Juvenile Delinquency Committee Announced

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27410, 24 July 1954, Page 9

Juvenile Delinquency Committee Announced

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 23. The names of those to serve under Dr. O. C. Mazengarb, Q.C., as a committee of inquiry into juvenile moral delinquency were announced tonight. They are Mrs Rhoda Bloodworth, of Auckland; Mr James Leggat, of Christchurch; and Dr. G. L. McLeod. Mrs B. O’Brien, the Rev. J. S. Somerville, and Mr F. N. Stace, all of Wellington.

The committee, unejer the chairmanship of Dr. Mazengarb, will report its findings to the Government, with recommendations fof positive action to remedy the position. The Minister of Customs (Mr C. M. Bowden), who announced the membership of the committee tonight, said the committee would hold a preliminary meeting within the next few days to plan a programme of work. Regular sittings would probably begin a week or two later.

Mr Bowden is chairman of the Cabinet committee set up to select the committee.

The Government, he said, was confident that the contribution of the persons appointed to the committee toward a solution of the problem would be real and valuable. “Their record in the field of public affairs, particularly as they affect our young people, is sufficient warranty of their eligibility to participate in this important inquiry,” the Minister said.

Mr Bowden said he would repeat the Government’s invitation for those who felt they had a contribution to make, to appear before the committee or submit suggestions in writing. Communications should be addressed to the secretary of th« committee, Mr I. J.

Greenberg, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Suggestions already submitted would be forwarded to the committee- ~ Dr. Mazengarb is 64. He is a wellknown Wellington barrister and is Dominion chairman of Heritage. He was formerly chairman of the board of governors of Queen Margaret College. Wellington. Mrs Bloodworth is the wife of Mr Thomas Bloodworth, and has had long experience in child welfare work. She has sat on the Bench in the Children's Court at Auckland.

Mr Leggat, who is 54. is headmaster of the Christchurch Boys’ High School. He has a distinguished academic and military and sports record. Dr. McLeod is 46. Formerly Assistant Director of the Hospitals Division in the Health Department, he is now Director of the Division of Child Hygiene. Mrs O’Brien is president of the Catholic Women’s League and vicepresident of the Council on Public Affairs. She has a family of five. Mr Somerville is acting-chairman of the Inter-church Council on Public Affairs, convener of the public questions committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and Moderator of the Wellington Presbytery’.

Mr Stace is president of the Associated Junior Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. Mr Greenberg, who is 63. is secretary of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service, and was formerly genera) secretary of the Young Men’s Christian Association in Australia and New Zealand. He is a prominent Rotariaa