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Report on an Ordinance entitled
An Ordinance to amend the Offences against the
Person Ordinance, 1865.
1. The object of this Bill is to provide an amplification
of the present local Statutory Law dealing with cruelty tó
children.
Under the present Section 26 of The Offences against
the Person Ordinancë, 1865, ̃ábañdoñment ̋orTM exposure of ¤ ̈
child under the age of two years by which the life of the
child is endangered ör fits health likely to be permanently
injured is punishable with imprisonment för a period ñot
exceeding three years.
There is also no doubt that, under the Common Law
which obtains in the Colony, it would be possible toTM
proceed, in some cases, against persons gulitý” or sërious
cruelty to children but not only lẽ thê prôcēdute undër
the Common Law more cumbrous" than when the principlesTM
are concisely contained in an Ordinañce büt also there
may exist instances in which the Common Law affôrās un-
satisfactory loopholes for escape.
The provisions of this Bill are intended to remedy
both these defects and theý přovide that any adult ̄who"
wilfully assaults or neglects a child of young person”
so as to cause it unnecessary suffering or injury shall
be duly punishable.
2/- The wording of this Ordinance is taken substantially
from the 12th Section of VIII Edward VII; chapter 67"(The ̄ ̄
-1-
Children's Act 1908) but it will be observed that the
question or Medical attendance has had to be omitted
in the Local Ordinance as it does not seem possible
to insist on such requirements in this Colony.
3/
In my opinion this is an Ordinaneeto which
His Excellency the Governor” may properly assent in
the name of His Majesty and on His behalf.
S. P.
John a Buckmill
Attorney General, 22. 4. 13.
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