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"in the case of every child born alive, after the commencement of this
Act, it shall be the duty of the father and mother of the child, and in
default of the father and mother, of the occupier of the house in
which, to his knowledge, the child is born, and of each person present
at the birth, and of the person having charge of the child, to give to
the Registrar, within forty-two days next after such birth, information
of the particulars required to be registered concerning such birth, and
in the presence of the Registrar to sign the register."
The 39th Section of the Act provides that, "every person is
required by this Act to give information concerning any birth, and
failing to give such information, is liable to a penalty not exceeding
forty shillings."
At my request, Mr. Vallance, the Clerk to the Board of Guardians,
has kindly furnished me with the following particulars respecting the
operation of the compulsory Registration of Births Act. In the
year ended 30th September, 1874, there were 2G70 births registered
in this District. In the next year, 1875, there were 2700; in 1870,
2705 ; in 1877, 2774; in 1878, 2727; and in 1879, 2718.
Mr. Vallance supposes, that, during these years, there has been
a diminishing population, and he adds, that it is impossible to say
how many births have escaped registration, but he has no doubt that
there are some.