I will now state the reasons for the new provisions.
The object of this paragraph was to
Paragraph (e) of section 3 enables a boy to be sent to a reformatory school even although he may not have rendered himself liable to be dealt with by a Magistrate. It seems desirable in certain cases (one or two have actually occurred recently in the Colony) that, where a male child has no natural guardian nor anybody to look after him, it should be possible to send such child to a reformatory, where he will be taken care of.
Last paragraph of subsection (ii) of section 5. There is no provision in the Reformatory for any but male children, but it seemed to the Executive Council of this Colony desirable that some power of boarding out female children, who have got into trouble, should exist, and accordingly this provision was inserted. It seemed appropriate that this power should be vested in the Registrar General as he has the care of women and girls under the Women and Girls Ordinance, 1997.
(see
Section my This section is founded upon a proposal contained in the report of the above-mentioned Departmental Committee, page 96, section 181, paragraph 10) and it is submitted that it provides an alternative method of dealing with a child which may be found useful and convenient in certain cases.
Section 8. This section is founded upon recommendations of the aforesaid Departmental Committee. (See page 96 of their Report, section 181, paragraphs 2 & 4).
Section 9. This section also is based upon the Report of the Departmental Committee (see page 96, section 181, paragraph 5).
Section 10. The sentence underlined in red ink is new. It was inserted so as to remove all doubts as to whether a Magistrate could legally presume the age of a child, without taking any evidence at all on the point.
Section 22. This provision is new and is founded upon the aforesaid Report of the Departmental Committee (see page 95, the first 18 lines of section 120). This provision is intended to prevent parents from trying to get rid of their own proper responsibility for their children by neglecting them and thus rendering them liable to be sent to a reformatory.
Section 23. The Advisory Committee is intended to fulfil to a large extent the duties performed by Managers of Industrial Schools at home. The Inspector of Schools alone cannot satisfactorily perform them.
The Captain Superintendent of Police and the Acting Police Magistrate and the Inspector of Schools, who formed an Advisory Committee to the Attorney General with regard to certain details in the Ordinance, are of opinion that its provisions are suited to the local circumstances of the Colony.
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