INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 5 September 1907, Page 2

INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.

AN INTERESTING DEBATE. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS.

Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The interrupted debate on Dr. Collins' motion re improving the legislation for infant life protection was resumed by the Attorney-General in the Legislative Council this afternoon. He said he bad come to some definite conclusions since 3'cstcrday as to the lines upon which the law should be amended for the better protection of infant life He explained that his proposals had not yet heon 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 a properly qualified nurse who was experienced in the upbringing of children. Thirdly, provision ought to be made whereby no foster-mother should be allowed to take children until her fitness lias been proved. Further, some provision should be made to prevent the removal of infants until there was reasonable evidence they would be properly cured for, Once a child was in the hands of a suitable foster-mother, removal should not take place without, good 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 be with the approval of a State officer. It should be provided that the fostermother should not bear the burden of collecting the money from the parent; it must become the 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 ertacted that registration must be within forty-eight hours of the birth of an illegitimate child, as often the first few days of life were most important. The Adoption Act should be amended. The State, he said, provided for the proper rearing of farm stock, but was altogether behind the times in the matter of providing for the proper treatment of children. The 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 foster-mother received a reasonable sum. An order for the adoption of a child should be provisional, and not exceed-

ing six mouths, renewable for a further six months if the result was satisfac-

<ry. If unsatisfactory, the child hoiild be removed. Even in certain ases, despite the protest of the parents, vhere a suitable foster-mother, after wving a child for some years, desired o permanently'adopt it, she could be ;fforded the opportunity. The Hon. Mr. Rigg .said lie was oni if those who was prepared to suppor lie extension of any system that wouli esult in benefit to the majority o ;ho community. The difficulty abou ppointing trained nurses was that fev >f them had had experience in the up iringing of children, and he would pre er to see appointed women who hai iroiight up families. To ileal with thi .'hole question effectively they must ge it the root of the evil The evil the low sought to remedy had its growti 11 the standard of the morals we ha< et up. Fear of the exposure contri ittted largely to the destruction of in ant life, and this implied that then ras something wrong in our state o oeiety What was wanted were found ing hospitals where children might bi ared for, and this was the only way U irevent the destruction <sf child life The Hon. Mr. George went into sta istics to show that the death-rate o hildren generally was excessive in thi olony, due to ignorance. He advocate! ending lecturers round the colony ti nstruct mothers in methods of thi reatment of children. The State shouli rain the children in the variou irancb.es of domestic duties To encour ige an increase of the birth rate , hi advocated a land grant to each chili born and surviving at a specified date The debate was n.'juurncd.