CUSTODY OF A CHILD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 310, 23 May 1913, Page 4

CUSTODY OF A CHILD.

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASK. It will be remembered that at : the meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in March last some discussion took place, arising from the alleged extraordinary conduct of an inspector of the Education Department acting under the Infant Life Protection Act. A warrant had been issued for the arrest of a child under the charge of the Board, she' being, it was alleged, a subject for confinement in an AucUland home for mentally defective children. The Board had refused to give her up, and she has remained here pending enquiry into the case. At Wednesday's meeting, a letter was read from the girl's father, asking for her custody, and one from her brother, promising to provide for her. The chairman of the Board had given them permission to take the child, who-, had refused to go. He then asked Dr. Home, medical superintendent of the Old People's Home, to make a report on, the girl's health. The doctor reported that the girl was subject to occasional attacks of abdominal trouble, and required careful attention. He added that she was getting a good practical training in household duties, when fit to undertake them, and concluded the report: "It would, for her own sake, be very .inadvisable to have her removed."

The uncle of the girl, together with his wife and nephew, waited on the Board on Wednesday in furtherance of their application to have charge of the child. They promised to do their very best for the girl, and to make her comfortable in their home. The uncle considered she would be much better off amongst her relatives. He understood that the girl had been verv much knocked about, although, he admitted, she had latterly been very well cared for in the Home.

The girl has been in the charge of the Board since a baby, and they resented the statement that she had been knocked about. The cliairman said he could not understand the statement, as the girt" had been loathe to leave the Home.

After some discussion among the members, Mr. Mcßeynolds moved that the girl, being now fifteen years of age, begiven her choice in the matter. Mr. Maxwell, in seconding, objected to the claim of these people on a child they had never attempted to maintain. Mr, McAllum moved an amendment that the Board refuse to give her up. Mr. Browne moved a further amendment that the girl be handed over to her relatives. She was of an age that required motherly care. Other members urged that the medical report tended to show that the girl should be kept under the Board's care.

Mr. J. Brown thought the boat plan would he to state the plain facts to the relatives. The Board had no right to interfere at all; the child was of age, and the Board had no control over her. Mr. MeAllum's amendment was then put to the meeting and lost, the voting being:—Ayes. Messrs. Bollrinser, McAlliim, Brown, McDonald; noes. Mrs. Dockrill. Browne, Macßeynolds, Hill and Maxwell.

Mr. Macßevnolds' motion, making it optional on the girl's part whether sh» left the Home or not, was then carried.