CHILD LIFE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1886, 5 October 1918, Page 4

CHILD LIFE.

Mr E. W. Erilchlcy, a. resident of Fritchlcy, a resident of Bombay, Bombay, has found lime, apart .from his architectural and engineering duties, to delve into this great question of preserving the young life of the nation. As a result of Ills observations he presents the following suggestions for the consideration of those who have it within (heir power to urge their adoption, or the adoption of proposals which might he made by others as improvements upon them; —

,1 Every child horn in a country should be commandeered for the nation's future good, and the nation's .personal attention given to it accordingly. 2. The parent of a child should lie made to clearly understand that the child is as much the nation’s property as the ■ parent's properly, and ns the nation is likely lo need it for future service, either-mercan-tile, civil, or military, (here must he a joint responsibility exercised by both parent and nation regarding its care and keep. 3. The nation should levy a child lax 011 every citizen, except 011 those who have been the producers of children, and who in consequence have (o assume all the cares ami responsibilities of parenthood. 4. There should be a systematic inspection of the physical and moral condition of every child, preferably by medical men or women, lo see whether the child is properly fed and morally protected from (lie influences which lead (0 degradation and poverty.

5. In the eases where the above reports are favourable, (he care of (he child should he left entirely with the parents. (i. Where the reports as to the parents’ conduct am! sense of responsibility are favourable, but their income is below a living wage. State aid should he rendered, either by securing more remunerative employment for the family, or by giving such allowance as may be necessary (0 keep (lie child or children in tit condition. 1

7. Where ’parents are found whose moral and iinaneial conditions are such as to show a sad lack of parental responsibility, the State should assert its national right to adopt, protect, and develop the neglected child, and should continue to do so until the parents are in a position, in respect of both character and money, (0 discharge (heir solemn responsibilities. There are lens of thousands of children who are physically wrecked by disease, and morally wrecked by degrading surroundings, Jung before they reach their teens. Such children become a drag on the nation, and, on the face of it, it is far wiser to assume their care for the iirst 15 years of their lives than their keep for the rest of life.

8. A very heavy tax should be levied on every wealthy childless person, as it is but fair that such wealth should be the main contributing factor to the betterment of the nation's man-power, through which power their wealth has been, and continues to be, protected for their own solitary enjoyment.