LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2177, 5 September 1907, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

PROTECTION OF INFANT LIFE. RADICAL CHANGES SUGGESTED. Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 4. The Council met at 2.30. The interrupted debate oil Dr. Collins’ motion re improving legislation for infant life protection was resumed bv the Attorney-General, who said he 'had come to some definite conclusions since yesterday as to the lines upon which the law should be amended for the better protection of infant life. Ho explained that his proposals had not yet been submitted to his colleagues. In the first place it was proposed to remove the control of inspection from the police to the Education Department. Then there ought to be inspection by properly qualified nurses who were experienced in the up-bringing of children. Thirdlv. a provision ought to be made whereby no foster-mother should be allowed to take children until her fitness has been proved. Further, some provision should be made to prevent the removal of infants until there was reasonable evidence they would he properly carea for. Once a child was in the hands of a suitable foster-mother its' removal should not take place without -rood reason. Provision should be made that no foster-mother should take a child except at a rate that would properly maintain it, and then it should he with the approval of a State officer. It should be provided that the foster-mother . should not bear the burden of collecting the money from the parent; it must become a duty of the State to collect the amount-, and where the money could not be collected the State must make up the deficiency. With regard to the registration of births, it should be enacted that registration must be within 48 hours of birth. With an illegitimate child the first few days of life was often most important. The Adoption Act ihould he amended. The State provided for proper rearing of farm stock, but was altogether behind the times in the matter providing for proper treatment of children. Tho law should prevent children being adopted for a lump sum. The State must take the matter in hand, and get what money it could from parents, and see that the fostermother received a reasonable sum. The order for the adoption of children should he provisional, and not exceeding ‘six months, renewable for a further six months if the result is satisfactory. If unsatisfactory the child should be removed even ill certain cases despite the protest of the parents. Where a suitable fostermother after having a child for some years desired to permanently adopt : t-, she should be afforded the oppor--unity. The Hon. Mr. Rigg said he was one of those who was prepared to nipport the extension of any system that would result, in the benefit of tlio majority of the community. The difficulty about appointing trained nurses was that few of them had experience in the up-bringing of children, and he would prefer to see appointed women who had brought up c imilies. To deal with the whole luestion effectively they must get to the root of the evil. The evils they now sought to remedy had. their growth in, the standard of morals we bad set up. Fear of exposure contributed largely to the destruction of infant life, and, this implied there 'was something wrong in our state of society.. What was wanted were foundling hospitals, where children night be cared for, and this was the only way to prevent the destruction >f child life. The State should take charge of these infants in the first instance. He would- do his best to help to make tho law as beneficial as possible. The Hon. Mr. George went into statistics to show that the death rate if children generally was excessive in lie colony due to ignorance. He advocated sending lecturers round the colony to instruct mothers in the methods of treatment of children. The State should train children in die various branches of domestic duties. To encourage an increase in the birth rate he advocated a land grant to each child born and. surviving at a specified date. The debate was adjourned. MISCELLANEOUS.

A return was ordered on the motion of Air. Rigg showing the number of permits applied for and issued ■O under-rate workers under the uvards of the Arbitration Court, also the xiennits granted in connection with the provisions of the Arbitration Act. The Wainukurau County Bill was passed. The Farriers Bill was killed. On the motion for committal the Gore Streets Bill and Wellington City’ Empowering Bill was read a second time. The Council rose at 4.45.