THE UNWANTED INFANT.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 137, 10 June 1909, Page 6

THE UNWANTED INFANT.

FOUNDLING HOSPITALS SUGGESTED.

The question of infanticide was before the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Liberal and Labour Federation last night, when Mr. Thos. Gresham introduced a motion favouring the establishment by Government at -the four centres of Foundling Hospitals as a means of preventing infanticide. In the course of his duties as Coroner, he was brought face to face with the fiaet that there was a good deal of "putting away" of unwanted babies, and he was sure the number of instances that was not made public was very much greater. The matter was introduced to him by a letter he had received from, Mrs. Bedford, a lady who was deeply interested in the subject, and who was keenly alive to the terrible sacrifice of infant life that existed. He snapped his fingers at the moral people who told him: "Oh, you at once open the way to immorality." There were the lives of these infants which were lost to the State, and: the matter was one of national importance. In his experience, the "putting away" of children was not done by any particular class. It might be by the poor factory girl or the young lady in a fairly good position. He had had them all before him. It was the feeling of shame that was the trouble. If we had the Foundling Hospital oh the system prevailing in London, it would alter the whole matter. In these Hospitals the children could be placed without shame; they were well-cared for; and all, or most of them, became good and useful members of society.

In order that the members might have an opportunity of considering the matter, further discussion was adjourned till next meeting.