CHILD AND PARENT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 53, 31 August 1925, Page 6

CHILD AND PARENT

As will be seen in the cablegram published to-day, the Child Welfare Congress, sitting at Geneva, dealt with a number of matters directed to the special interests of mothers and children. First, through the universities, special attention is to be directed towards child welfare, and special committees are to bo constituted, where such do not exist, to give mother and child legal, medical, moral, and financial aid. Special assistance is to be given to women and children emigrants while at sea; deserted children are to be regarded as of equal value with others ; 'close oversight is to be exercised over children in care of foster-parents; and school children having to walk long distances ought to be served with hot meals at the State or parents' expense. In circumstances where such solicitude for mother and child is now wanting, and where, there is no attempt being made to manifest it, no doubt the proposals agreed upon^y the Congress are timely and dictated by the highest humanitarian instincts. At the same time, eimimslanees vary in different c-onnhi-ies—and all conntrien would be taken Into consideration at l.he- CongiOKM. While it is lamentably true of Great Britain and the British J )>irnitii<°>iis that, parental responsibility in numerous instances is taken (on lightly, it is also true that most parents are still fully alive to their privileged duties, and do their utmost to discharge ,thcin. Il.oiuc building and the- creation and preservation of good Durno influences (for whit/li ' there '8 i.ifi liiiown substitute), jot iaci'easiugiy diiliuuifcj

but for all that the great majority of parents who are striving to do their best by their children will be chary of relinquishing their trusts to officials; and will resist any invasion of the sanctity of the family, however well meant..