SNOWDENMr. asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case of John William Rackley, a boy who has been three times before the magistrates for theft and being beyond control; if he is aware that this boy has been recently detained in a remand home for two weeks and is now back home with his mother; that the mother is a deserted wife who has to work long hours away from home to maintain her children; and that the boy John William is quite beyond her control; and can he take steps to have this boy sent to an industrial school in the interests of both the boy and the State?
Mr. SAMUELI understand that this boy was charged under the Children Act, at the instance of the London County Council, but that the magistrate, in the exercise of his discretion, did not consider that the circumstances warranted committal of this child of eight years old to an industrial school. A child cannot be committed to an industrial school except by order of a magistrate; and the magistrate having decided not to send the child I can take no action in the matter.