A case affecting the administration of the Neglected and Criminal Children Acts has recently been dealt with in the City Police Court. t)n Monday a lad named Rodgbes was charged with being a neglected child. A Sergeant of Police stated that on numerous occasions he had discovered the boy at night sleeping in the open air, or under the protection of a shed. <'n the 30fch November last Roimjers was committed to the Industrial School for a term of four years, but was shortly after taken out by his father. Our report of the proceedings shows that, in answer to the Bench, the boy said thai; his father came home drunk, and locked him out. The presiding magistrate, Mr Fish, in remarking upon the case, drew attention to what he considered an irregularity upon the part of the In dustrial School authorities, in that the boy had been licensed out before half of his original term of sentence had expired. Yesterday, however, Mi- Fish, alluding to what he had said on Monday, stated that "Mr Bkitton, master of the Industrial School, had given a very satisfactory explanation, and had proved that by an amendment of the Act of 1867, from which he (Mr Fish) had quoted, he was justified in licensing the boy out to his parents, on taking pre cautions that he would be taken care of. He said this in justice to Mr Britton." Now, we do not hesitate to say that al though Mr Britton has been able to show that he complied with the letter of the law, his explanation is very far from being satisfactory. If Mr Britton has administered the law after a proper fashion, then, all we can say is that the Neglected and Criminal Children Acto are the veriest shams that ever made their appearance in the Statute Books of the Colony. The boy Rodgbrs is brought before a Bench of Magistrates, charged with being a neglected child. It is proved to the satisfaction of the Bench that hia father is uutit to have the charge of his own child, and the boy ia committed to the Industrial School for a period of four years. Undoubtedly one great object of this sentence—by, .no means a long one—was to prevent the boy being brought under the contaminating influences which were associated with hin home. 