Dear Editor,

I refer to the article, "It's Official: Do not hit children!" (Migrant News, Issue 35 2007) and would like to share my opinion towards the New Zealand anti-smacking bill.

The bill is believed to curb the growing number of abuse against children, however, I have to disagree as this bill only strips the parents their rights to smack their children as a way to correct them and deter them from misbehaving.

The new bill is only doing a disservice to families in New Zealand. If we are not allowed to smack to our children to correct them, as long as no bones broken, no blood spilt or lost lives involved, how can we teach our children not to repeat their misbehaviour in the future?

Not all children can learn to behave or stop misbehaving through time-outs, naughty corners/chairs or even being verbally reprimanded.

A smack on the hand or bottom will deter their misbehaviour. It does not kill the children or destroy their confidence and dignity as a human.

The anti-smacking bill will only give the children the wrong idea that they are above the law and no one can lay a finger on them even if they misbehave or commit a minor offence. Moreover, more children will grow up to be monsters of society who harm or kill people where no street shall be safe to roam in peace.

Who is to be held responsible for the future monsters should this happen? The parents will not be the ones to be held responsible since they are stripped of their rights to smack their children. It is the bill and its makers to be held accountable for the creation of the monsters.

Many families including myself will hope this bill would be abolished and have the old law be restored into the New Zealand justice system.

We do not want to see a future where our little children turn grow up to be criminals all because of the new bill.

- Stella Matthews, Kingsland, Auckland