INDIAN BOY’S KEEP

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 128, 28 February 1928, Page 5

INDIAN BOY’S KEEP

A PECULIAR CASE I A peculiar story relating to an Indian youth was told by Mr \V. E. Leicester in tlie Magist rale's t'ouit yesterday, when an application was made by the police to have Khusal Moral' provide adequate maintenance tor his son. Moral Vithal. Mr. Leicester, who represented the father, explained that last tear his client had been summoned for assaulting the boy, before Mr. E. Page. S.M. file father then said that *lio child used to steal money, so that he was forced to beat him. Tho case was adjourned, and the Child Welfare Department took charge of the young Indian, and bound him over to the Stare. De was placed in a home, but as the food did not agree with him (he required Indian food), ho was handed over to another Indian named Rama to look alter. “It seems,” continued .Mr. Leicester, “that in Indian law as Rama lias taken the child ho is its uncle by adoption, and should keep it. Young Morar '■bil works for Rama, who owns a rival fruit round to the former’s father, and we allege that the boy is being used to take custom away from his parent. Kama has not paid the boy any wages, because he says that as he is the youth’s uncle he need only provide him with his keep. The father, however, say’s that ns his son is over 16 years of age and working he is not a destitute person within Die meaning of ■ .Act " Tho Magistrate (Mr. J. 11. Salmon, 5.. M.) adjourned tho case for one week so that evidence could be called.