INFANT LIFE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8910, 9 November 1907, Page 3

INFANT LIFE.

. „,, PROPOSALS FOR PROTECTION

THE NEW BILL

The Infant Life Protection Bill, •Which has been introduced, in the legislative Council by the AttorneyGeneral, has been circulated. No person who is not licensed under the Act may, for payment or reward, receive or maintain an infant for a longer period than seven days. The Minister of Education may, however, exempt charitable institutions, or near relatives of the infant, or such other person as he thinks fit. . An application for a license under the Act must be accompanied by the certificate of not less tjhau threfa householders to the effect that the applicant is of good character, and fit to be *■*»'- trusted with the cftre of infants. The license may at any timo bo revoked by the Minister who may make such arrangements as he thinks fit for the custody of the children. The terms on which infants are received by the foster parents must be VHbproved by the secretary or other •fttson, authorised by the Minister. If the payment is not made, the amount will be paid to the foster parent by the secretary, who is given power to recover it from the parents, together with auy money he may have expended on medical attendance or burial. , Where the parents have agreed with the foster parent to pay a lump sum, the amount must be paid to the secretary, who will pay it to the foster parent by weekly instalments. lull powers of entry and inspection are given to any officer appointed for that purpose, and in case of emergency may remove any infant from the home. No child under or over the age of six years may be removed from a home without the consent of the secretary or other officer authorised by the Minister. Notice of death of an infant m a home must be given to the police within twelve hours. The police will inform the coroner, and he will decide as to whether an inquest is necessary. In most cases the penalty for breach of the Act is a fine up to £50 or six months' imprisonment. j| Foster homes are to be at all times *W open to any member of Parliament or any Justice of the Peace. The occupiers of any house in which a child is born must give notice of the fact to the Registrar of Births, stating the date of the birth, and name of the mother, within forty-eight hours in a city or borough, or seven days in any other case.