CHILD WELFARE

NZ Truth, Issue 1215, 14 March 1929, Page 6

CHILD WELFARE

Many r^^oricoming^ Irt Present Act

SWEEPING POWERS

Although there are many desirable components which go toward the construction of the Child Welfare Act and its amendments, there remain some exceptions which are by no means contributory to the general tenor of satisfaction connected with t&e operations of this particular department.

INASMUCH as the majority of those 1 who style themselves, social work"ers are pleased to pronounce that the administration of the child welfare system m this country is very good indeed, it is incumbent on them arid their departmental executive, Mr. John Beck, satisfactorily to explain what appear to be shortcomings m the'framing of the Act under which the, depart-, ment is operated. , • : Firstly, the spirit 'of hopelessness engendered m the minds . and hearts of those who, because of: some unfortunate failing, were obliged to relinquish their authority over' their children, and place them m the care of. the State. . • Once the Child Welfare Department has assumed control over the careers of girls or boys, there is practically no prospect of their being veturned to their parents, even though the; lastmentioned should achieve the status of respectable citizenship! Where, then, lies the incentive for them to bring about their own'reformation, ■ that their __ - • children may be restored to them? It is . conceivable that where drunken mothers or fathers, or both, degrade themselves to such" an extent that the State is obliged to deprive them of their children's company, and the. parents subsequently reinstate themselves m the eyes of the community, they desire the return of their little familyV But: no matter to what extent they have . succeeded ' m re-establishing themselves, m spite of tangible evidence, they may produce m support, of their i declarations j any applications they make will be answered by the intimation that the child, or children have been committed to ,the State, and there they must remain at the plea-^ sure of the Welfare Department. Possibly,, the department's officers may argue that their experience as social workers leads them toward- the belief that only • rarely do such cases manifest themselves.. Broadly speaking, such a statement is difficult" to believe, and to understand. To combat this unfortunate discrepancy m the Act, which govei'ns the assignment of children, an adjustment clause should be inserted, whereby parents who are able to establish' their bona fides could approach the » court for the purpose of regaining possession of their families. ... h ' .;..■•'■■ At present, the mothers and fathers of such children have no remedy at law, and magistrates are impotent to assist them,: since the legislature' provides for the re- ■ tention. of the children until they i are 21 years of ag* : ,

Harsh Provisions

The second aspect of child welfare - administration presents , itself m the question of money held m trust for the Nations foster / children, represented : by their earnings between the date of . leaving school and the time of their discharge from the protective shield of the department and its officers. Throughout this period the State holds the major portion, allowing the trainee a few shillings pocket money - each week, meanwhile superintending - the spending and clothing of the subject. ; v ■ " ■■•.. , • -••• Invariably, the effect of this training and supervision achieves commendable results, and m a number of instances ' boys and girls who eventually are'' r identified as stable and industrious ~" young men and women are permitted to .;. withdraw the whole of their compul- - ■ sory savings, should they require toinvest \- their money m some r eputable ■- enterprise.' .;- „-.-• ■. ■Naturally, the department displays r : a certain degree of tardiness m respect off permitting spendthrift youths to ■. . ; handle a comparatively large sum' of ■ __ money- for some ; irresponsible venture,, but at least ; one instance has - been .brought be^ .. fore the . notice . • . of this paper where ;: erstwhile children of the Statehave experienced, some difficulty In persuading Superintendent Beck to release their savings. ;■;■•'. - ,**■■■. i . - ■ ■ ■ ■..•". One of these children, now grown . to manhood, stood his trial on a capital charge, but although he made repeated efforts to secure his - childhood savings m. order that he •_.-.■. might brief tan expert advocate to defend . him, it' was only when '.■„';.. strong representations were made that Superintendent Beck acquiesced. ; ' '■.; It will not be gainsaid that the superintendent's ■ position must be fraught with difficulty, but it is equally true that the powers with which he is vested are ; too widespread and too sweeping m. their possibilities, "'■■-.fj The two illustrations related 'herein are very much after the pattern of other *' legislation effected by past Governments, many of whose members did not, or could not, forsee the : elastic nature of the provisions con- . tamed m the various enactments pass- 7: ed with unbecoming! celerity: • In fine, there is undoubted need, for a partial remodelling at least of thosesegments of the Child Welfare A^ct relating to the circumstances outlined m this article, and the suggestion is commended to the constructive section of the, present Government that the com- ' ing session would be opportune. . .