Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1901. NEGLECTED CHILDREN.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 September 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1901. NEGLECTED CHILDREN.

A reform in the law relating to Charitable Aid is very much required in this colony, for as the law at present stands certain districts by a little strategy are able to —and as a matter of fact do—take advantage of residents in other districts where the authorities inclined to fair treatment do not contemplate having to meet with sharp practice from their neighbours. A care of this kind cropped up the other day at the Greymouth Magistrate’s Court. Three neglected children were brought up, and would in all probability have been committed to onb of the Industrial Schools for years to come, at an annual charge to this district of about £6O, had not Mr Hannan, who happens to be a member of the Grey Charitable Aid Board been present, and asked for an adjournment in order to get further information. This was agreed to, when the following facts were illucidated. That the father and mother, both abdicted to drink, along with five children, some little time ago left Wellington for Blenheim. On arrival there the authorities apparently feared that the family would become a permanent charge upon the district, and so paid their fares to the “ general dumping ground ” —the West Coast. They had not been in this district very long before they came under the notice of the police with the result that the mother was twice before the Court for drunkenness, and the unfortunate children were up for being neglected. The remand was granted, and the Charitable Aid Board in order to escape the unjust charge of £6O per annum, paid the passage of the family back to Wellington. The whole proceedings show how necessary it is that such cases should be provided for out of colonial revenue. The children are much to bo pitied, and should be taken charge of by the State, while the parents should be treated as criminals and made to work for the State as a return for their neglect to support their offsprings and placing the burden upon the people. ■