Press Release
For Immediage Publication

Prostitution Favoured Over Parenting

The Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Bill currently before Parliament simply seeks to repeal Section 59 of the Crimes Act. Section 59 is titled, "Domestic Discipline" and says:

59.Domestic discipline-

(1)Every parent of a child and...every person in the place of the parent of a child is justified in using force by way of correction towards the child, if the force used is reasonable in the circumstances.

Section 59 is bracketed with Section 60 in their own little category with the title: "Powers of Discipline".

60.Discipline on ship or aircraft-

(1)The master or officer in command of a ship on a voyage or the pilot in command of an aircraft on a flight is justified in using and ordering the use of force for the purpose of maintaining good order and discipline on board his ship or aircraft if he believes on reasonable grounds that the use of force is necessary, and if the force used is reasonable in the circumstances.

(2)Every one acting in good faith is justified in using force in obedience to any order given by the master or officer or pilot in command for the purpose aforesaid, if the force used is reasonable in the circumstances.

Sections 59 & 60 recognise parents, pilots and ship captains as having legitimate authority to use limited force in order to fulfil their responsibilities to their charges, be they children or passengers. Repealing Section 59 will remove this authority from parents, but not from pilots or captains.

This Bill is blatantly anti-parent. Not long ago, one of the most degrading activities in society, prostitution, was made completely legal in New Zealand. If this Bill is passed, however, the noble art of parenting will be driven underground, making hands-on, pro-active parenting a criminal activity. Parenting in New Zealand will have less status and less protection in law than prostitution.

ENDS

© Scoop Media