a reform of criminal sentencing in the courts and backed the use of corporal punishment.

And the youth magistrate also turned on the Children's Act, railing against his lack of power in directing the amount of time a juvenile offender must serve in a home.

Magistrates send convicted children to the Director of Child and Family Services with a suggestion of time to be served in the home, but the Director has the discretionary power to immediately release the child.

Admitting that as a child the only thing he feared was a whipping, Mr. Greaves said: "You had to cut my behind. But we can't do that anymore.

"There are many good people with good intentions who say that under no circumstances should you use corporal punishment,'' he continued.

"And there are many -- with equally good intentions -- who say you should use it all the time. I say you have to use different techniques for different horses.

"Some you can hand ride without using the whip and win the derby and for others you got to smack him all the way from the gate!'' Mr. Greaves added to laughter in the court.

"The same thing for human beings. You can't give them all counselling. That's rubbish! If a cut tail is necessary, then so be it. But, I'm not going to break the law.'' Earlier, he told counsellors they would have to convince Government to change the way it deals with repeat under-age offenders.

Speaking about one boy, a counsellor said: "There is no guarantee he won't get bored and steal again.

"He has to appreciate that people work hard for their property and he should have to pay it back,'' the man continued, "otherwise he will think he gets off scot-free.'' Mr. Greaves replied: "That's the weakness in the law. You have to make representations to the right authorities.'' He added there should not only be compensation for the stolen items but also replacement costs for victims of crime.

"I believe that the Alternatives to Prison programme is a good thing and the committee will be seeking public input,'' he continued.

"It's being done all over the Caribbean and the world.

"They should not be allowed to profit from their crimes by selling what they steal and not paying all the money back.'' Mr. Greaves added that neither the judiciary, Government, probation officers nor the general public had all the answers to the crime problem.

He added: "I believe you should sell everything he's got to pay it all back.

I'm not saying poke out his eyes, but let him see how it feels.'' Mr. Greaves' ire was raised later in the day when a woman complained her son would not be accepted at the Observatory Cottage.

The woman said: "I'm just telling you what they told me. They say he is manipulative of the other children. They say under no circumstances will they take him again.'' Mr. Greaves replied: "I just don't understand it. You mean the Director of Child and Family Services has more power than the Commissioner of Prisons? "I order the Commissioner of Prisons to hold someone or I order the Commissioner of Police to do something, they have to do it. But if I order the Director of Child and Family Services to take him they don't have to?'' He added with a sly smile: "All right then, let's wait and see. You may be right, ma'am.''