MAGISTRATE EMPHATIC.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1371, 24 March 1923, Page 4

MAGISTRATE EMPHATIC.

WON’T ALLOW “BABY FARMING” TO (,'0 ON. WOMAN .SENTENCED TO ONE MONTH. (By Telegraph. Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Friday. “This is one of the most pitiful cases I have ever handled, ’ said Mr M.ilthev s in the Police Court this morning, when a relined looking woman was charged with failing to register an illegitimate child. She bad gone to great pains and exoense 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 pursunce 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 had 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 it was horn, and in reply to an advertisement had taken it to Mrs Winifred Watson, who agreed to maintain it and keep it. The woman paid her £4O for this service, but subsequently she found that Mrs Watson had given the child to another woman, Mrs Annabelle Mabbs, to whom she had to pay £L a 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, hut 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 He hoped the name of the child’s mother and certain other facts would' not be published.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 charged with receiving the infant, and failing to register her home in the manner prescribed by law. She pleaded guilty and admitted having received two sums of money—£ls and £25 — from the mother, for the safe keeping of the baby. She had advertised for

someone to care for it, and had received a reply from Mrs Mabbs, who took it, and was given £l3 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. I won't have it.!’’ said Mr i Poynton, emphatically. “Since Mrs ! Dean was hanged some time ago ! (here lias been a lull in this sort of thing for a good while. Yes, it’s baby farming all right, and we can’t allow people to (tarry on this sort of thing. Look at the facts disclosed in the recent case. One can't say what it would lead to. It's not as if she didn't know that a home had to be registered. She bad kept a home before, and knew all about it. I'll give this woman one month in gaol. Anybody else will get the limit.’’ Mrs Watson, wringing her bands: What shall f no? On a charge of failing to stamp a receipt for the money. Mrs Watson was fined I*s. in default 14 days' imprisonment'. Mrs Annabel:a Mabbs, a new arrival from the Old Country, also pleaded guilty to having failed to register lifer borne after taking in the baby. Her excuse was that she did not understand what was required of Iter. As soon as she knew she had registered her home. She had taken care of the child from August Ist to November 7 th. It was stated 'that the child was now in another licensed home at Birkenhead. A lady official stated that Mrs Mabbs bad 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. Site .would lie lined -10 s and would be given one month in which to pay. " If she came to the court again on a similar charge she could expect no leniency. The mother was convicted and discharged for failing to register the child.