PUNISHMENT TO FIT THE CRIME NEEDED

Chronicle (Levin), 2 July 1946, Page 4

PUNISHMENT TO FIT THE CRIME NEEDED

—Press Association

By _ Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, July 1. ' 1 The shocking case of eruelty to the child Ruby Nelson, recently reported in tlxe Press, lias aroused pnblic indignatjon throughout New Zealand, particularly, among Women 's organisations, ' ' states the Wellington braneh of the National Council of Womep, "The sentenee of three months' hard labour for what appears to the layman as little short of nianslaughter, has horrb lied the people with its inadequacy, though it is realised that under the eharge brought against the man Nelson, the Magistrate was unabje to inr flict a 'greater penalty." The Dominion president, Miss M. G. Havelaar (Christchurch), supported by the exeeutive of the Wellington braneh, niet the Prime Minister last week and asked the Government to investigate / the whole position and amend the law \ in sueh a way that never again could such calculated brutality to a child be met with so light punishment. The following resolutions from the Wellington braneh, of ,tlie Couneil were handed to the Prime Minister: "For the proteetion of the children of our country, we.urge the National Council of Women to approach the Government aslcing that sleps be taken immediately to have the law dealing with crinies against children amended so that sueh inadequate sentences as that recently passed on a brutal father (in the case of Ruby Nelson) cannot occur agaiu in New Zealand, the maximum penalty being so substantially inereased as to nmke the punishment fit the crime. " "This braneh of the National Coum i eil of Women urges that all persons I having knowledge of eruelty to or I erimes against children, report such I cases at onee to the authorities and i recommends that the souree of such reI ports should be treated as conlidential. I These reports could be made to the jpolice, Child Welfare Department; Sal.j vation Army, or the Society for the Proteetion of Women and Children." Mr. Fraser gave a most sympathetie hearing to tKe deputation and promised an investigation into the Act and necessary amendment. Among other matters brought before the Prime Minister by Miss Havelaar hnd the Wellington exeeutive was a I request from the National Council of j Women to the Government, to set up a , Parliamentary Committee to investi- ' gate the social and eeonohfic status of j women in New Zealand, such commit- , tee to inyestigate along the same lines | as the Royal Commission set up by the British Government some months ago. i To this request, so. much in line with i opinions expressed by him at United j Nations Conference, Mr. Fraser proj mised every consideration.