CHILD WELFARE CONTROVERSY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1053, 18 August 1930, Page 8

CHILD WELFARE CONTROVERSY

Mrs. Cassie’s letter on this subject infers that I was not correct in stating that the Auckland Women’s Branch of the Labour Party I ad, after investigating certain cases, fou.xl serious faults existing in the Child Welfare Act, and had expressed dissatisfaction as to its administration. I acted as chairwoman during the meeting held for the purpose of the investigation mentioned in my letter to the S.P.W.C., and took notes of the evidence given by those who had grievances against the Act. From these notes and general observations I later formed a series of complaints against the Act, with suggestions for improvements. These were endorsed by the members of the branch at a subsequent meeting, and the secretary was instructed to embody them in letters to the Minister of Education nncl to

the secretary of the Parliamentary Labour Party, asking that amendments be made to certain clauses during the present session. This I understand pas been done, if Mrs. Cassie has carried out the instructions given her. As to the demeanour of the officers. I as an investigator have no cause for complaint, nor have I ever said that they were anything but courteous, as I had every reason to expect them to be. I have had no experience of them as a parent or guardian with a grievance. It is my habit to see a remedy before pointing out a fault, so that my criticism of the Act is by no means destructive. I have no motive in the action I am taking except a sincere desire to right a wrong and assist the helpless. It is with extreme reluctance I write this letter, and would gladly have foreborne to give this matter undue prominence, but feel that a statement from me is necessary to correct a false impression given in your correspondent’s letter. M. B. SOLJAK.