statement, such statement may properly be given in evidence; there is nothing wrong or unfair in the conduct of the officer of a society in communicating to such person the nature of the complaint against him and in taking down his answer even when no caution has been given.(u)

(u) Rogers v. Hawkden, 62 J. P. 279.

CHAPTER IV.

MEANS OF PROTECTION.

ALTHOUGH the whole text of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act is set out fully hereafter, it may be useful to briefly enumerate here the provisions which it makes for protecting children and punishing those who wrong them. As, moreover, the Schedule to that Act brings within its scope a number of offences not directly contained in the text, it is necessary to bear clearly in mind, not only the provisions of the Act itself, but the numerous other offences brought within the scope of those provisions. In order that this may be done, a summary of the provisions themselves is given below, and then a complete alphabetical table of all the offences to which they apply.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS.

(1) A child of tender years may give evidence not on oath, but his evidence must be corroborated in a material particular implicating the accused. Such evidence having been duly taken down in writing shall constitute a deposition. (a)

(2) The accused is a competent witness, and his or her wife or husband. (b)

(3) The accused may be taken into custody without warrant by a constable, if such constable has either:

(a) Seen the offence committed; or

:

(b) Has reasonable ground for believing that it has been committed, and that the offender will abscond.(c)

(4) A child in respect of whom an offence has been committed may be taken by a constable to a place of safety and there detained, or may be so taken by any person by the order of a justice. (d)

(5) On the conviction, or committal for trial, of the accused, the Court may transfer the custody of the child to some fit and proper person. (e)

(6) The convicted person may be ordered to contribute to the maintenance of the child a sum not exceeding one pound a week. (ƒ)

(7) Any two justices, or in urgent cases, one justice, may grant a warrant to search for and remove any child where there is reasonable cause to believe that an offence has been committed against such child. (g)

(8) The accused may, if an habitual drunkard, be sent, with his own consent, to a retreat.(h)

(9) The child's deposition may be taken by a justice out of court, where its attendance in court would involve serious danger to its health. (i)

(10) Such deposition may be used at the trial, if the accused has had notice of its being taken and had an opportunity, if he desired it, of being present. (k)

(11) The same information or summons may include several children, and may also charge several offences.(1)

(12) The Court may assume from the appearance of the child that it is under the specified age, unless the contrary is proved.(m)

TABLE OF OFFENCES TO WHICH THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS APPLY.

Or any other offence involving bodily injury to a child under the age of 16 years (aa).

Other offence involving bodily injury.-It is difficult to say precisely what this phrase would cover. Vaughan Williams, J., held (a) that the mere rupture of the hymen of a girl of sixteen was not such "bodily injury." Quære, however, whether to render a child pregnant would not be, or to have carnal knowledge of a very young child, or to infect a child with a venereal disease? All such offences as wounding with intent, (b) unlawful wounding, (c) &c., would undoubtedly be included, as would be neglecting to supply a servant under sixteen with food, (d) if actual bodily injury supervened.