The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1913. A SCANDALOUS CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 257, 20 March 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1913. A SCANDALOUS CASE.

An extraordinary condition of affairs was revealed at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board. The facts are fully set out in another column. Suffice it to say here that the officer under the Infant life Protection Department desired a child who had for years been under the care 'of the Board, though "contracted out," committed to the home in Auckland for mentally defective children. The chairman of the Board, believing the child to be perfectly sound mentally and morally, and wishing to save the child from the odium that would be attached to her name once she became an inmate of the Home, protested strongly, but, to fortify the position of the Board in the matter, took the child to the Old People's Home to be examined by the medical olfieer (Dr. Home), who declared her to he perfectly sound in every way, and. further, thai she should not be committed to the Auckland Homo. Meanwhile a warrant, at the instance of the Infant Life Protection Inspector, was issued for the arrest of the child. Thereupon, the Hospital Board chairman and secretary took the bold step of defying the authorities, and would not give up the child. The rest of the Board concurred in the action taken, and yesterday passed the following very strongly-worded motion: "That the Board requests that a searching emptily into the condition of affairs that permits of the perpetration of such a gross injustice as is shown to have taken place in the case of a child, and, further, that the removal of the officer immediately responsible is demanded." Also, "that the Minister of Justice be requested to stay the warrant for the arrest of the child admitting her to a metal defective home, pending the enquiry asked for by the Board." That is how the matter stands. The Board, in our opinion, are deserving of commendation for the firm and courageous stand they have_ taken in the interests of one of their wards. It is also our opinion that there is something radically wrong with laws that permit an official to procure an order for the arrest of an innocent child and have it committed to what is'practically a lunatic asylum, without medical or any other examination, and in face of the wishes and convictions of the local body who are practically the guardians of the child. The position is one fraught with considerable risk and danger to the weal of the community. It is the turn of this child now; it might be the 'turn of someone else's child tomorrow. Evidently officials under the Infant Life Protection Act have wide powers, greater, indeed, than those possessed by magistrates. Before an adult can be committed to an asylum he has to be examined by a doctor and by a magistrate and Justices of the Peace. This safeguard, experience, especially in the Old Country, has taught to be necessary in the interests of justice and the community. With a child, however, an inspector has the determining of its sanity in his or her hands. Is this right or desirable? Of course it is wot, and should not he tolerated by a country that prides itself upon its freedom and perfection in law-making. This child, had the in-pector had her own way. would have been branded as of v ,-cak intellei't and ■•under arrest," and its future life would have suffered, if it would not have been absolutely spoilt. Then the Education Department and its officials should not be allowed to override and circumvent a. hospital and charitable aid board in carrying out its duties. The members of the latter obviously know more about the cases under their jiii'i-diictioii than outside officials can possibly do. Surelv they should not be subjected to the unwarranted interference of an outside department's officials. 'Hie Board are calling for an enquiry into the case, and we trust it will be granted. Tf it is not. the matter should be threshed out on the floor of Parliament. Tile defect ill our legal svsteiu that allows such a scandalous state of things to oxi-t should and must be remedied without, delay. We believe (he law of the bind should be upheld and obeyed, bin in this i'n-e we have nothing but the | highest praise for the Hospital Board and the secretary for shielding the child ill tin 1 way they have, and arc. and setting the Education Board, its oliicials and the police at defiance. We only hone tltev will keep the child away from the police nn lil the liirtiier has been brought under the no! ice of Cabinet.