past two years, according to Government statistics released last week.

Reports of all forms of abuse with the exception of sexual abuse have risen, and even in that case, Family Services officials expect the numbers to rise with the advent of the 1998 Children's Act, which will require those involved in the care of children to report suspicions of abuse.

It is likely that part of the reason for the increase is that there is heightened awareness of the issue in the community as a result of better education and increased research into the effects that abuse can have on children at the time and later in their adult lives.

Thus cases which would have been ignored ten years ago are now being reported.

Some people will view compulsory reporting with concern, because the risks of false accusations will inevitably rise. But there does not seem to be any other option, and few would want to see a situation occur where a child died or was badly injured because a "suspicion'' was not reported.

This is particularly important when 29 per cent of the cases reported in 1998 involved children under the age of four, and a further 26 per cent involved children under the age of ten. Very often, these children cannot report these cases for themselves.

It is also important to note that the largest single category of abuse comes in the area of neglect and neglected children are very often the ones who are then placed with foster parents. Foster parents deserve credit for making the effort to look after children who have no one else to turn to, but increases in reports of neglect means that these few Good Samaritans will face increasing demands.

In some cases, parents need to be taught basic parenting skills and this should be a major part of any anti-child abuse campaign.

PERKS PART II Perks Part II Some months ago, after their defeat in the General Election, United Bermuda Party MPs were criticised in this column for complaining about losing perks and privileges such as parking spots at the Cabinet Office.

Now it seems that Government is getting in on the act as they look at ideas such as giving all legislators free games at Government-owned golf courses.

MP El James told The Royal Gazette that this idea was only being "considered'', with the rationale that the legislators would be able to advise the trustees of the Government golf courses, which Mr. James chairs, on ideas for improving them.

There's nothing wrong with sharing ideas, but there is no reason for legislators not to pay their greens fees like everyone else. Mr. James, who has done a huge amount to rebuild cricket in Bermuda, would do well to follow the advice of another cricketer, UBP veteran C.V. (Jim) Woolridge, and declare this idea a no ball.