NEGLECTED CHILDREN AND THE STATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12955, 26 August 1905, Page 6

NEGLECTED CHILDREN AND THE STATE.

[BY TEl.KGltAl'H.— ASSOCIATION.] UiiEiSTCircRCH, Friday. At a meeting of women held to-day to discuss the question of "neglected children and the State," resolutions were passed as i follows:—"(1) Urging the establishment of cottage homes: (2) that the State should provide for the proper maintenance, supervision, and education of illegitimate children, and that parents should be obliged to contribute according to their means to support of their children; (3) that these, children, where paternity is proved, shall possess equal legal status with those born in wedlock, and shall be registered in the, name of the father; (4) that a public officer, who may be a woman, be appointed, whose duty it would be, before the registration of the birth of an illegitimate child is completed, to discover the parentage where possible, with the view of enforcing the proper maintenance of the child." It was also resolved to send copies of the resolutions to the Premier and members of the House. A resolution was passed thanking Mr. Taylor, M.H.R., and tho members voting with him, for endeavouring to expunge the clause in the Electoral Bill preventing women being eligible as members of the Legislature, and it was resolved to urge strongly that the clause should be deleted.