NATIONALISATION OF CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11602, 16 March 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

NATIONALISATION OF CHILDREN.

We are getting on. An article by Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson in the Polyclinic is likely to attract considerable attention and comment. The article is entitled "The Nationalisation of Children," and the writer urges that it is high time that the dicta of our social economists as to parental responsibilities were considered. "Is it right, is it fair, is it politic," it is asked, "that the State should continue to insist that the whole burden of providing for children should be thrown upon their parents?" At present the burden bears with fearful inequality, but as the welfare of the State depends upon its population, the State, it is argued, should recognise its responsibility in the up-bringing of that population: — "Without in any way interfering with the illations between parents and children, or diminishing either the strength or the warmth of the family bond, it may surely be within the power of the statesman to find the means for a better adjustment of the burden referred to. The State has at length recognised its duty in respect to education, let it now cheerfully face a yet larger and more important work. Let it acknowledge fully and freely thai as it is the community at large which reaps the advantages acruing from an up-grown population, so it is upon the community at large that the cost of rearing the young ought at any rate in some measure to fall."

We can imagine the indignation of certain people at such a proposal. But the suggestion, coming from such a quarter, and receiving, as it evidently does, tho imprimatur of a number of eminent medical meg should set some folks, thinking.; " • " .