Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1920. WELFARE OF CHILDREN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2123, 4 May 1920, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1920. WELFARE OF CHILDREN.

THE subject of child welfare was discussed by Mr C. M. Rocke, a member of the West Australian Legislative Assembly, who is at present visiting- New Zealand as a member of a Royal Commission recently appointed to investigate the systems introduced by the various Governments of Australia and New Zealand, for promoting the welfare of children. Speaking of what had already been done in this direction in both countries, Mr Rocke said he had been greatly impressed with the manner in which New Zealand is dealing with delinquent, neglected, destitute and mentally deficient children. “Another point I would like to mention is tln| work of your pro*bation officers,” he remarked. “It is splendid,'and in this respect New Zealand is ahead of West Australia, where no such system lias yet been tried. In another point, however, we are ahead of you, for wc have our .luvenile Offenders Courts, presided over by a magistrate and two women Justices’ of the Peace. No policeman in uniform is allowed in the Court, and 1 think that in this respect New Zealand might well follow our example. The defect of our system, however, is that if 'a young offender is found guilty he is taken from his home and sent to one or other of our denominational institutions. We have no Government institutions for children swell as there are in New Zca.land. The probation system, to my mind, is a splendid institution, giving the child every chance of redeeming himself.” The foster-home system operating in New Zealand was also favourably commented upon by Mr Rocke. “I consider it conics nearer to the ideal condition than any other,'' be said, “but I am not so sure we can readily attain (hat ideal. In my country ili.' foster homo system is still in its infancy, and most of the homeless or delinquent children are sent to the denominational institutions. The Salvation Army in particular has a very line institution in (he country, some little distance from Perth, where the boys are taught gardening and farm work, and the girls are also trained to earn their own living.” The importance of developing'the system under which menially deficient and backward children are educated and otherwise eared for by the Government, was emphasised by the visitor, who considers the New Zealand system a very thorough one. There was one point, he said, at which the Stale must stand very linn, and that was the segregation of those finally rejected as below (be standard of mental and moral intelligence. Euless this class were kept under (dose and constant'control, they would become a menace (o the whole community, and the good work of earlier years completely undone. In one nialler Mr Rocke expressed the opinion that (lie Xcqv Zealand law might well he amended, lhal which makes it compulsory • that all commitments to foster-homes shall be through (he Court. There appeared to he no necessity for (his, and it seemed altogether wrong Dial a child of good pa mil age should have added to itft misfortunes the entry of its. name in the records of any Court. Children should be dissociated from Court proceedings, as far as possible, and the commitment made in some other way.