Linda Hall: Law does not stop child abuse

Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.

An assault on a 12-year-old boy this week has caused a bit of a debate.

Last Tuesday three boys were walking along the riverside cycleway, which runs between Murphy Road and the Pettigrew-Green Arena in Taradale, after a swim in a nearby river.

One of them, who was in Hawke's Bay on holiday, called out to a passing cyclist. The boy says he said "hi".

The male cyclist took exception to whatever the boy said and assaulted him.

Now I really don't care what the boy said. Probably showing off in front of his mates.

Who cares? That's what kids do. And he is a kid, remember, he is 12 years old.

The person who assaulted him is thought to be in his 40s or 50s.

Now he is the one who should know better.

He should be the one to have control over his emotions.

I can't believe some of the comments I've read about this incident.

One said: "People won't like this comment but if those boys were yelling out and being insulting he probably deserved a flogging."

A flogging? My goodness, why don't we just put all cheeky kids in stocks by the town clock in Hastings or the Sound Shell in Napier and throw rotten eggs at them?

I wonder if the man who assaulted this child ever knocked on people's doors and ran away. I know I did with friends, never by myself.

I also used to ring people up and ask if their fridge was running.

When they said "yes", I would say "Well you'd better run and catch it."

Or how about this one? You phone someone and say "Is Peter there?"

"No you have the wrong number." "Oh, sorry."

Two minutes later you ring again and say "Is Peter there?"

Harsher voice this time, "No, you have the wrong number."

Then wait for 5 minutes, ring again and say: "This is Peter. Have there been any messages for me?"

Usually they would say "Oh, bugger off" or "You cheeky little brats", which of course would have us laughing our heads off.

We were cheeky. The majority of kids are the same.

It's all harmless fun and while this boy may have said something offensive, it is absolutely no excuse for what this man did, I hope the police get him because I'd love to hear what his excuse is.

Many people say our children are becoming out of control because of the smacking laws.

Personally I don't agree with the law. Everyone is unique.

When it comes to discipline, what works for one won't work for the next.

Some children respond to a simple "no" and will stop what they were about to do immediately.

Others will look their parent in the eye and carry on.

So what then?

I know there are all sorts of things parents can do but I also know that parents/caregivers are the ones who know their child inside out.

It's not up to the Government to tell parents how to raise their children.

What makes me even more adamant about this is the fact that the very people this law was aimed at continue to beat their children.

If there were no cases of child abuse since this law was introduced in 2007, I would be saying congratulations to Sue Bradford. That hasn't been the case.

It seems the law may have some challenges this election year as the Conservative Party, a potential Government coalition partner, sets out to overturn it.

It will be very interesting. Remember the referendum when 87 per cent of New Zealanders voted that they did not believe smacking should be a criminal offence?

No one took any notice, so I'm going to be watching this issue closely - as I'm sure thousands of others will.