BABY FARMING."

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 23 March 1923, Page 7

BABY FARMING."

MR, FOYNTON EMPHATIC. WONT ALLOW IT TO GO ON. WOMAN SENTENCED TO ONE MONTH. "This is onp of the most pitiful eases I have ever handled," said Mr. Matthews in the Police Court this morning, when I a refined looking woman was charged with failing to register an illegitimate child, tihe had gone to great pains and expense to keep the birth of the child from her acquaintances, said counsel, and had suffered more than one could say. She was a woman of delicate feelings, and had refrained from taking action against the father for maintenance, in pursuance of her policy of avoiding publicity at all costs. Her trouble had been rewarded in that not one of her friends or acquaintances knew, even at the present time, that the child hud been born, but the ordeal was such that it had left her utterly crushed and broken. She had brought'the child to Auckland shortly after il was born, and in reply to an advertisement hud taken it to Mrs. Winifred Watson, who agreed to maintain it and keep it. The woman paid her £40 for this service, but subsequently she found that Mrs. Watson had given the child to another woman, Mrs. Annabella Mabbs, to whom she had to pay £1 per week. It was a very sad case, and counsel hoped that the reporters would not publish all the facts, since the poor woman had already suffered more than she could bear.

Mr. Poynton said he could make no direction to the Press, but he could make a suggestion. He hoped the name of the child's mother and certain other facts would not be published. _ Mrs. Winifred Watson was next r'.iarged with receiving the infant, and falling to register her home in the manner prescribed by law. She pleaded guilty, and admitted having received two sums of money—£ls and £-'5 from the mother, for the safe keeping of the baby. She had advertised for someone to care for it. and had received a reply f rom Mrs. Mabbs, who took it iind was given £13 by accused, in weekly instalments of £1. Accused had not had the child in her keeping for more than a short time.

"That s baby farming, pure and simple. iTiont have rt!" said Mr. Povnton, emphatically. "Since Mrs. Dean was handed some time ago there has been a lull in this sort of thing for n good while Yes it's baby farming all right, and we can't allow people to carry on this sort of thing. Jx>ok at the facts disclosed in the rece.nt case. One cant-say what it would lead to. It's not as if "she didn't know that a home had to be registered. She had kept a home before, and knew all about it. I'll give this woman one month in gaol. Anybody else will get the limit." Mr*. Watson, wringing her hands: What shall I do? On a charge of failing to stamp a receipt for the money. Mrs. Watson was fined £5. in default 14 days imprisonment. ilrs. Annabella Mabbs, a new arrival from the Old Country, also pleaded guilty to having failed to register her home nfter taking in the baby. Her excuse was that she did not understand what was required of her. As soon as she knew, ehe had registered her home. She had taken care of the child from August 1 to November 7. It was stated that the child was now in another licensed home at Birkenhead. A lady official stated that Mrs. Mahbs had taken good care of the child while it was in her keeping. His Worship said Mrs. Mabbs' offence was not. so serious, and being a new arrival, she perhaps did not understand her position. Also, she had taken good care of the child. All these facts would be considered. She would be fined 40/-, and would be given one month in which to pay. If she came to court again on a similar charge, she could expect no

leniency. . The mother was convicted and discharged for failing to register the child.