A Sad Case.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 18 July 1891, Page 2

A Sad Case.

The School Committee had a sad case to deal with on Thursday last. Their decision, that it was necessary for the good . conduct of the school, to expel a lad, -was only arrived at, after most careful inquiry had; teen niadei We ., sympathise? wtijh} the

lads mother, who is a widow, as th's step places her in the unfortunate position of having to part from her boy, for a time, if she desires that he should obtain an education. Whatever causes have led to the boy's present position, we are not called upon to discuss just now, his offence was proved and admitted, and its punishment must follow to save others from contamination. What we have to consider is the unfortunate position of the law in regard to these children, when their parents refuse to be guided. The lad, if not better looked after, will become a danger to the town, an expense to •■•he State, and a wound to his mother. Yet uothing publicly can be done until he becomes a criminal. A parent can apply to th 6 Resident Magistrate, if he or she is unable to control a child, and ask that he be sent to an Industrial school, where he can be detained until he is 15 years "ii age. The parent would have to pay a certain sum per week for his support. The public, through the police, cannot act until the child has broken the law," when he can be committed to a. Reformatory, but then the parent can be called upon to pay, Wd 'seem* to want some power, as parents are given, to control such bad youngsters, so that whether the parents are willing or not their children can be placed in *orue safe custody yet kept free from the stigma of being a criminal.