The Premier’s Memorandum on Child Life Preservation.

White Ribbon, Volume 10, Issue 109, 15 June 1904, Page 9

The Premier’s Memorandum on Child Life Preservation.

Dining the earlier part of May Mr Seildon issued a Memorandum on Child Life Preservation. From a re* turn recently prepared, extending over a period of ten years, Mr Seddon finds that during that time twenty thousand children between ihe ages of one and five years have passed With a view to lessening this infant mortality Mr Seddon proposes, in brief, that only registered mid wives should be employed ; that in the case of the poor, the State shall provide these registered midwives; that the State establish Maternity Homes and Foundling Hospitals; that the State provide sick nurses for the p >or and also make provision for the tiaining of nurses ; that stringent regulations be enforced whereby parents guilty of cruelty to their children or neglect in cases of sickness may be made amenable to the law ; that creches be provided for the children of mothers obliged to go from home to work; that legislation be enacted preventing the insurance of children of tender years for sums beyond that which would cover cost of interment ; that in the case of illegitimate children it be rendered unlawful for any guardian or parent to commute the weekly or monthly amount necessary for the maintenance of such child.