MAGISTRATE’S WARNING

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1928, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S WARNING

EFFICIENCY OF CHILD WELFARE COURTS QUESTIONED • (By Telegraph—Press Association). hawed a, .'Dec. 19. Feelings of perturbation concerning the conduct and policy of Child Welfare Courts in the Dominion, were indicated. by Mr J. S. Barton, S.M. in the Court, when in replying to farewells voiced in view of his departure for Wellington, ho referred to remarks mad© hv Mr B. Dixon, J.P., who had complimented Mr Barton on his treatmen of cases in the Juvenile Court. Addressing particularly the several Justices who formed part of the farewell gathering, Air Barthn said that "speaking as a citizen interested in child welfare work, to the Justices who wfer© also l citizens interested in such work, he thought there were tendencies they should watch and think about. In the last analysis the best prevention and remedial factor would lie a well informed public conscience, and an intelligent and wise standard of requirements for youth. With this in view, he suggested they should ask themselves: “Are you satisfied it is wise to pre-judge, that in all cases inespective of the nature of the offence, the temperament of the offender and his attempts to inculpate others, his name must lie supprosed, and that irrespective of-the bearing of a youth of 16$ years towards authority and the country’s ideals, he must lie brought into a room shorn of all the appearance of surroundings of a court." H© did not wish to indicate recommendations, but wished that thought should he given to the subject. Mr Barton asked the Justices whether they saw any reason-to fear that i

tlie prosen tt policy might have the effect of lulling the public into a belief that little or no juvenile crime existed. If so, it was a matter which called for serious attention.