CHILD WELFARE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 5 April 1926, Page 10

CHILD WELFARE.

NEW ACT IN FORCE. On Saturday there came into force tlie Clnld Wellaro Act or 11125, under winch cases of juvenile mis- ' demeanour will be dealt with under entirely different circumstances from those existing u,p till tire liresent time. The law, as the present -generation knows it, lias aimed at protecting thu juveni.e offender rather than exposing him; at diverting his footsteps more or less gently lrom the wrong to the right path, rather than merely placing the stone wall of ,punishment m the wrong path. Thus, the Juvenile Court held in Timaru under Mr E. ]). Mcsley, S-XM., has not been marked by the terror of largo uiiilormed policemen and strict iormal procedure. Under the Magistrate's direction the police officers whose presence was necessary have ali ap reared in plain clothes, and the Court though losing none of its dignity, has beeti'’eonducied along more or less informal lines. AH persons not concerned in the case being heard, who were not court officials or newspaper men, were excluded from .the court, and, of course, the names of the offenders were not allowed to bo published Under tlie Act which came into force on Saturday the provisions foil the protection of tlie child have been widened. It is provided that: “Except with the special consent ot the presiding Magistrate of Justices of the Peace, it shall not he lawful for any person to publish a report of any proceedings taken before a. Children’s Court; and in no case shall it he lawful to publish the name of any child. .. .” The liability for dis-

obedience, which is a. contempt ot court is a fine net exceeding £IOO. It is laid down in the Act that, so for as is practicable, the Children's Court .shall 'be held in premises away from a courthouse. It, is also provided that. The Magistrate, or Justices of the Peace, who shall b e appointed specially to take charge of the Children’s Court, may, have the assistance of a person, ot either sex, who may be appointed.