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234
Scheme for Maternity and Child Welfare.
The above facts and figures indicate the importance of
the care of mothers and infants, and it is now necessary for
me to put before the Committee a definite scheme for dealing-
with these matters, in accordance with instructions
received. This object, I think, will be best accomplished by
accepting as a basis the scheme outlined in the memorandum
of the Local Government Board, which has already been circulated
to the Council, and framing our requirements stage
by stage.
1. Arrangements for the Local Supervision of Midwives.
At the present time the local supervision of midwives in
Willesden is carried out by the Middlesex County Council,
but in a properly co-ordinated scheme for the care of mothers
and children it will be necessary to secure that the Willesden
Council is made responsible for the supervision of midwives
practising in their area.
Section 9 of the Midwives Act, 1902, gives power to
the County Council to delegate their powers to the District
Council. This section is as follows:—
"A county council may delegate, with or without any
restrictions or conditions as they may think fit, any
powers or duties conferred or imposed upon them
by or in pursuance of this Act, to any district
council within the area of the county, and the
powers and duties so delegated may be exercised
by a committee appointed by such district council,
and consisting either wholly or partly of members
of the district council, and women shall be eligible
to serve on any such committee. Any expenses
incurred by a district Council in the execution of
any powers or duties so delegated, shall, to an
amount not exceeding such sum as may be prescribed
by the county council, be repaid to such