yesterday.

The claim came after almost 400 fathers who are behind with child support payments appeared before Family Court Magistrate Arthur Hodgson at St. Paul's Centennial Hall in Hamilton on Friday.

And another mass hearing is expected to be held in the future involving around 600 people.

Magistrates' Court administrator Tracy Kelly said: "It appears to have been fairly successful -- approximately eight hundred summonses were sent out and nearly 400 people attended.'' Mr. Kelly added: "The main intention was to bring to the attention of mostly fathers who were not current with their child support accounts the different things which could be done if they are not complying and what they can do to sort things out.'' He said around 200 people who were sent summonses had been dealt with before the date of the hearing and some were sent back as not known at the address on file.

Mr. Kelly added: "It was a pretty good turnout -- this is the first and we at some time in the future we expect to have another one.'' He agreed the courts had taken a soft approach with the mass hearings.

And it was also explained at the meeting that parents could apply to have orders changed if their financial circumstances had altered.

Mr. Kelly said: "There are lots of people who will respond if you speak to them -- some, of course, wouldn't respond if you got a hammer and hit them over the head with it.''