ADOPTION OF CHILDREN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2204, 30 May 1908, Page 3

ADOPTION OF CHILDREN.

AN IMPORTANT DECISION.

Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 29. Ail important ruling was given by Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., in the S.M. Court to-day respecting the adoption of children. A girl’s mother wished the Court to grant an application that her child should be adopted by a woman who had expressed willingness to foster it, Tho point at issue was that where the Act says that parents of a child shall agree to any application for adoption. Tho Magistrate held that the word “parents” included tho parents of an illegitimate child, and that in all cases it would lie necessary to show that the putative father consented to the adoption, or that lie had deserted tho child; whilst the solicitor for the applicants contended that in the case of illegitimate children neither of tho objections raised by His Worship applied. His Worship refused to grant the application until he had been convinced that the father had consented to the application or deserted and thus shirked, his responsibility. The Court, His Worship said, would do what it considered best for the child. The point- being pressed, His Worship said that he would ask Air. Justice Edwards to give ,a ruling. “If you are right,” replied the'applicants’ lawyer, “all the other rulings are wrong, and if all those orders are bad, all those children who are supposed to be adopted are not adopted.” His Worship, agreed that it was a very serious question. •