THE STATE'S FOUNDLINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 4 September 1907, Page 2

THE STATE'S FOUNDLINGS.

-THE CAKE OF INFANT LIFE. GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. Per Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. t: In the Legislative Council tliis after- 1< noon Dr. Collins moved that it is do- n sirable that the provisions, especially a with regard to inspection, at present in t force for the protection of infant life v be taken into consideration by the v Council. New Zealand, lie said, had i done a great deal for the protection of j infant life, but it was possible to do ( more. The Act of 1806 was an ad'mir- £ able measure, and resulted in good work t being done, but it was defeccive as re- ' gards the matter of inspection. The i police, he maintained, though conscien- ] tiously doing their duty, were unlit for ] 1 the position, because there were many |i things requisite which were beyond their ] ■ capacity. There were epiestions such 11 ■ as ventilation, sauitary requirements, i ascertaining the condition of the body i of a child, etc. What was necessary was the appointment of trained nurses j as inspectors. Another point was that the keeper of a home was very often 1 dependent upon the money received for infants, and this did not tend to tile proper care of children, and if the police were to be in any way concerned in Mie I administration of the Act, it should be in the direction of preventing infants j being removed from a home when it was against the interests of the child.: Receiving homes did good work, and for many years tlie Industrial Schools c Act had been working satisfactorily. 1 Ho was opposed to a big institution, and thought the great essential waß '* home life for unfortunate children. With regard to milk for children, he n advocated that municipalities should * control tlie supply, and milk should be d properly tested from the eow to the baby child. :e Dr. Findlay said tlie subject was of

such importance that the Government for some time past had been considering the best way in which to further protect infant life, and he would indi-

cate the direction tlie Government intended to move in the matter. It was one of the most important social questions which modern civilisation had to face, and it was the duty of the Government to protect those whose helplessness was not their own fault. He quoted largely to show the infant mortality and the decrease in the birthrate, and said the great increase in infant mortality was due to causes that could he avoided. He felt that the present method of inspection was undesirable, and that homes should be under the supervision of trained nurses. The system of homes resulted in hard bargains being made for the care of children. Apprentices were protected, dressmakers were protected, but bargains could be made for the protection of. infant life under the present law. The Government intended to put an end to police supervision of the homes, and to transfer it to the Education Department. He was of opinion that an officer of the department should have a say in the choice of a home; that the State should receive the money from the parent of tlie child and pay it to the foster-mother; that the State should also have a say in the choice of a home, and that there should be enquiry into the 'death of every child who had been in such a home, whether it died in or after leaving the home. The debate was" adjourned until next day. In the House of Representatives, in reply to Mr. T. Mackenzie, the Premier , intimated that the control of registered infant homes would be transferred to the Education Department. 'Authority had already been given, 'but it would require legislation, which would be Introduced this session.