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BABY-FARMING

A NEW HOME SUGGESTED

TO REPLACE THE BOARDING-OUT SYSTEM

At yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Jlr. F. T. Moore moved ;— "That the board take into. immediate consideration the imperative need for the establishment of a permanent home for all foundling and indigent children in lieu of the existing evil system of. farming out suchj children in congested, unclean, and unsuitable private homes."

Mr. Moore, in moving the above motion,, said that everyone knew the value of homo association . and environment on children, and he wished to say something, about the children who were adopted by the State, and for whom the board found the money. Children who were boarded out on the State system, who were quitejnnocent, were regarded as outcasts, and were treated as such, whereas they deserved to be treated as well as the State could afford, and not placed in the meanest and poorest homes of the people. They should not bo given over to the care of people with pig farms and loft only to the society of pigs and fowls. There were children who were kept in dirty back yards,'.and not-allowed to associate with children from other homes. The chairman: Have you any proof? Mr. Moore said the proof could be obtained if a commission of inquiry were set up. Some people haS been known to boast of the pure gain these children were to them, as the food they ate was nothing more than would have to be* provided in any case, and they helped to feed the pigs and poultry. His information ,had come from members of town boards ' and county counoils, who had worked during tho recent epidemic under the wide powers given . them Some of the State' children were ni homes that were found to be in a disgraceful state,-where pigs and poultry had the run of the house. It was the duty of every member of the board to inquire into the conditions under which these children were being cared for.. If the board would set up a home similar to those of the Salvation Army it would be doing a great service—the homes of the Salvation Army were heaven compared witji the Jot of those who had to herd with pigs and poultry. Such a home -should not be a barracks, but an attractive place wliere the children should be cared for in a manner worthy of the State. The evil was such that there was actually competition for the children, and tho sneaker nuoted cases which had been discovered by members of a town board, lo allow them to remain in s\-ch homes little beasts and treated like little animals They were utterly neplectwl and loft entirely to themselves, inere was no continuous su:«rnsion no system. The- board should bestir itself to found an institution in which to house and rear such chiWuen in n manner fhat. would bs a credit to the Uty of Wellington. "There, could he no better achievement," concluded Mr Moore, addressing the "to crov ™. your vears of service , tlifin to £stn_oli_Kli such n. home, pnd call it the Baldwin TTomo." (T,.™diier.) • Mr H. van ' Staverer, secomleu the motion pro forma He said. That a lot of what ' Mr. Moore bad said was right. . It was the board s aaly to start a borne of tho kind. T.iey already had the nucleus of a fund for the object. Tho State had a right fa care for these children, end they all knew how they exercised iy, and they should be no party to anything of the kind. * • . ■>

Mr. A. J ATOurdy asked if the board had the power to establish such a home.

lh,e cuairman stated that they had Hie power. All children committed were boarded out by the State, but he to not think they need commit thtjm it they-had a. farm or home of their own. All children who were sent to the orphanages were committed, but thiiu was 'mt the placo to make complaints. J; [ r . Moore should go to tho •Education Department. If his facts wore well grounded he ' should brinr; them before the Education Department or the Minister of Kducation. Mr Petherick said that somo good might arise out of tho motion. He suggested that the board should get some data on tho question irom the Superintendent of Charitable Aid, who had informed him that between 70 and W per cent, of the cases were infants under 12 month's old. Some definite data would help them to arrive at a conclusion.

Mr. D. Campbell favoured Mr Moore s motion. . They knew what was going on all along. They had asked the permission of the Education Department to grant two ladies the rjVht to inquire into the conditions under which these children were cared for I he reply was: "What do' you want?" After.bema: told the reason, the Department had said:, "If jou want to take care of the children get a home of your own. All you have got to do is to foot the bill." Two cases had been sheeted home, but. they bad beaten them over a. third case. If Mr. Moore would give the names of the parties to the Charitable- Aid Committee they would see into the cases. Pending fuller information, bo suscested postponing the matter until next moetin" Mrs. Aitkon said that those who' footed the bill should have some say as to whore and how the children vera kept, but they had no power, no access to them. Lots-of the children were kept as little slaves in homos.in order to make .ladies and gentlemen of their keepers. ■ The homes should bo cottage home!, 1 , not barracks, with' something like home life and training. When they had seen the Minister he had quoted the lines laid-down in tho Act, but they knew that those lines were not kept.to. Let-them do what they could for theso little unfortunates.

Finally, on the suggestion of - the i(ev. Dr. Elliott, it was decided to postpone the discussion in order to obtain data from tlio Superintendent of Charitable Aid,, who is to be asked to 'attend the next meeting.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19190124.2.65

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 102, 24 January 1919, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,026

BABY-FARMING Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 102, 24 January 1919, Page 6

BABY-FARMING Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 102, 24 January 1919, Page 6

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