INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8876, 9 November 1907, Page 4

INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.

The Infant Life Protection Bill, introduced into the Upper House this week, is on the lines indicated by the Attorney-General during an academic discussion in that chamber in the early weeks of the session. The present system of police supervision of infant homes is to be abolished and the homes—which are in future to be designated "foster-homes"— are to be placed under the control of the Education Department. No person other than parent or guardian is to have charge of any infant longer than seven consecutive days unless licensed as a foster-parent or permitted warrant. "Infant" is defined as a child apparently under the age of six years. An application for a license must be made to the Secretary for Education or such other person as the Minister may appoint, and must be accompanied by a certificate of character and fitness signed by three householders. This provision will offer no obstacles to the procuring of a certificate, as there are always plenty of good-natured persons ready to lend a helping hand to a neighbour when it does not involve more than the signing of a credential. The chief safeguard for infant life lies in the provision that the State is to have the collection and disbursement of the money payable to the fosterparent, and may recover from the father of the child or near relatives the amount agreed to be paid to the foster-parent. Discretion is given to the coroner to decide whether an inquest shall be held when an infant dies in a foster-home, and if th« inquiry is held it shall be the duty of the coroner to inquire not only into the immediate cause of death but also into all the circumstances relating to the treatment and condition of the infant during life which in his opinion should be inquired into in the public interest. Within forty-eight hours of the birth of a live chil.l if in a city or borough, or within seven days in the country,, the fact must be notified to the Registrar of Births. A penalty not exceeding £5 may be imposed for a breach of this provision. The Act is to apply to children adopted under the Adoption of Children Aet, 1890. Any breach of th'e Act fo£ which a penalty is not expressly provided is punishable by a ' fine not exceeding £SO, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months. The Infant Life Protection Act, 1896, is repealed, but persons | licensed under that Act shall be deemed to be licensed under the new Act. There is much in the bill that is contentious, but it is at least an honest, if not too-well considered, effort to protect infant lif« in the dominion.