CHILDREN’S COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 8, 7 December 1926, Page 6

CHILDREN’S COURT.

MAGISTRATE URGES DISCRETION. AUCKLAND, Dec. 6. The practice of bringing very small children before the Court for more or less trivial offences wafe commented upon by Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M.. in the children’s Court to-day. A boy, aged eight, was charged with stealing a number of instruments from a school laboratory. It was stated that when the instruments were missed the matter was' put in the hands of the police, who discovered the boy had taken them.

Mr Cutten said he thought far too many cases of this type were coming before the court. The boy had taken the instruments because they were bright and had caught Iris childish fancy. He had no idea of tlioir value and no intention of stealing. The magistrate added that he had given instructions that the boy should not be brought before tire court. Someone should have the right to use discretion "n these matters and this was a case where it should have been employed. Mrs N. E. Ferner, associate member of the court, said she quite agreed with whrat Mr Cutten had said. A number of cases came before the court in which very young children were charged with offences.- It would bo a great deal better if they could be dealt with in some more simple way.