CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2521, 7 June 1909, Page 5

CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

THE PARENTAL CONTROL OF THE STATE.

[Per Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, June 5

Interviewed as t-o the law respecting infants' who became- the care of the State, the- Hon. G. Fowlds said that the next alteration of the law would probably be to secure* pow r or for the State to continue its parental regard for its wards, even after they had attained thc v age of 21, if it w r as shown that their conduct ivhcn left to their own resources was unsatisfactory-. The idea was to give the State authority to retain incorigible inmates in the institutions, and re-com nut others after they had 1 passed the age limit, and if further detention was considered advisable in the interests of youths and the general public. “It w-as a perfectly ridiculous thing,” commenced the Minister, “for the State to be put to the expense of keeping some of these persons, who may be more or less degenerates, up to the age of 21, and' then turn them adrift to prey upon society. Instead of there being any movement toivards reducing the age limit the tendency is in the opposite direction. In the reports of two commissions of inquiry this matter of increasing the age has been one of the strong points made. The reports have emphasised the necessity for legislation to provide for the further retainment of those ivhose conduct has not earned them the the right to be released. When the young people are licensed out to various employers they may be put to draw their own salaries if the department is satisfied that they can _be entrusted Avith tlieir oaati destiny. Usually, hoAvcA-er, the State’s Avards are not allowed to liaA-e their oivn SAA'eet Avill Avith their earnings. Their food and clothes are purchased for them, and thev are allowed a reasonable amount of fiocket money. The balance is banked for them, to be available at the age of 21, if they have behaved well in the meantime. Thus lads, by the time that their 21st birthday dnnvs near, have sufficient funds to give themselves a- decent start in life. The “Nest egg” may be- in the vicinity of £IOO. They have no direct claim on the money,” said Mr. Foaa-Icls. “It is a guerdon for good conduct. If the Department’s officers liaA-o sound reason to believe that the money will be squandered viciously, the fund 1 is not handed over to the recipients. Penodicallv tho young folk licensed out are visited by representatives of the Lunatic Department, but visits are not of a kind to be obnoxious to the protegees. The call is made so that the 'parent may discover whether her children are being well treated or not. The State merely tries to do as much as an oidinary conscientious parent should do under the circumstances.”