CHILD WELFARE ACT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 140, 11 December 1930, Page 11

CHILD WELFARE ACT

WOMEN'S CRITICISM

MINISTER PROMISES INQUIRY

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, 10th December. The Minister of Education (the Hon. H. Atmore) promised a women's deputation that he would make full investigation into charges made aganist the system of the Child Welfare Act administration. Members of the deputation criticised the management of the State homes and the boarding out of children on farms, and said the method of judging the characters of the children was wrong. One said that evidence existed that girls of 16 and over were sometimes flogged. , The Minister expressed deep concern at the charges, and said-the methods by which, it was alleged,-religious influence was brought to bear on the child's disposal also required special investigation. In reply to a request, he promised to use special methods- of investigation apart from official reports. Subsequently the Minister heard another deputation declare that wonderful work was being done by the Department. ■ The first deputation represented the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and the second represented the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women. PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN. The secretary of the latter said that the organisation was framing amendments for improvement of the Act. There had been criticism, but in one case the charges had been investigated and found to be baseless. Mr. Atmore: "It appears to mo that in Auckland there has been a campaign of propaganda against the Act." Miss Carnaehan (president): "Absolutely." The Minister said it appeared .to him j that a statement should be made con-; cerning the aims and working of the Act, then the public would understand more about it. He would make a statement at an early date.