IDENTIFICATION CARDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 121, 24 May 1932, Page 8

IDENTIFICATION CARDS.

CHILE'S NATIONAL REGISTER. ADVANCED SOCIAL LAWS. INFANT WELFARE CENTRES. "People run away with the notion that Chile is a place of half-civilised barbarians," said Mr. G. St. Aubyn, F.R.G.S., who has been in South America off and on for 15 years, and is at present living in Auckland. Some of tlie social legislation in Chile, he said, showed a considerable advance on that of New Zealand. For example, in Chile they had a system of identification cards by which every person in the j State was known. The cards, of which he holds one, were folded into two divisions. On one side was a numbered photograph of the owner, a thumb-print of the right hand, overlaid by a Chilian postage stamp and an official impress stamp or seal. On the otner side were fin - I ther details. The card "certifies that the photograph and the impression or the right thumb and the signature that is on this card pertains to the holder John Brown." The signed name of the holder was given, together with the name of the father and mother. The exact place of birth, nationality, single or married, profession, height and other pertinent details were also duly registered.

j The police kept one copy of the card, ! which was issued to every person in Chile. It served practically as a passport, and its inspection could be demanded by the police at any time. It was also useful as a means of identification. If a man wanted to cash a draft in a bank where he was not known he could produce his card and show that his signature corresponded with that on the card.

"In view of the recent disturbances in this country," added Mr. St. Aubyn, "I think that such a system might with advantage be copied. It would provide the police with a means of checking the movements of suspicious individuals and a means of showing the officials ■who ehaa-aeterßr ena^icraiu"

Child Welfare. Child welfare was the particular wire of the State. In earlier days child mortality in Chile was the highest in the world. It had reached an appalling figure, and the Government became so concerned that a commission was called in from America. As the result infant health in the country was now irreproachable. Infant welfare centres had been set up at different points in the city. They were like playrooms, where mothers could leave their children during the day while they went to work. The children were washed and fed and generally looked after, and to ensure healthy conditions the apartments were w a ' lc<l largely with vitaglass. The clnldien ranged in age from infanthood up to live or six years. Conditions for workers were much more favourable in Chile, said Mr. c>t. ! Aubyn. Compensation payable to workI men was much greater, even for minor 1 injuries, than in New Zealand. Great I care was therefore taken in factories ! to ensure that machinery was perfectly I safe. There was even an emergency engineer with his own staff as an added guard against contingencies. ' "Other countries, civilised so many [years more, have much to learn fiom | Chile," said Mr. St. Aubyn.