Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Truth column May 9-15

My Truth column May 9-15

Parliament resumed this week.  Why do MPs get school holidays off anyway?  Other working parents have to pay for child care or farm their offspring out to family, though I reckon quite a few break that absurd law that says a child under 14 can’t be home alone. But it wouldn’t do for an MP to break the law.  And if anyone should have to live by some of the claptrap that comes out of Parliament, it should be the claptrap creators.

My youngest went to school in the city from 11, footing it unaccompanied on city streets daily.  Am I expected to believe he’s safer there than at home?  A flying squad could swoop on thousands of homes during the school breaks and find under-age children fending for themselves. Good thing too, learning to take responsibility for themselves. I can’t fathom a law that says developing initiative and becoming independent is a bad thing.
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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The more holidays for MPs the better. Stop's them from making more laws to control the population

Lindsay Mitchell said...

Which was exactly the conclusion of my column.

Anonymous said...

Lindsay

the law doesn't say you have to be 14 to be left alone.

that choice is (still) up to parents


the law does say you have to be 14 to be left alone in charge of other kids

Lindsay Mitchell said...

10B Leaving child without reasonable supervision and care

Every person is liable to a fine not exceeding $2,000 who, being a parent or guardian or a person for the time being having the care of a child under the age of 14 years, leaves that child, without making reasonable provision for the supervision and care of the child, for a time that is unreasonable or under conditions that are unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances.
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1981/0113/latest/DLM53535.html

Anonymous said...

Being left alone at home there needs to be consideration of where you live.Not all neghbourhoods are safe.Not all houses have good security.My sister lives in a street with gang houses,known paedophiles and other known criminals.This is all that she can afford.That is many peoples reality.