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On the threshold of this inquiry the further question may suggest itself—Are the lives of
the children worth preserving, looking at the matter from an economic point of view? It may be
conceded that the facts submitted indicate that many children are foredoomed to early death by
causes which are not preventable by outside effort: but it is not less true that many lives might be
saved by the removal of causes of death that are preventable, and the adoption of measures more
or less within the power of the sanitary authority and philanthropic effort. That it is a moral duty
to conserve, by all available means, the life of infants born with a reasonable prospect, under
favourable conditions, of a healthy life, will be admitted, and in a few words I hope subsequently
to show that effort to achieve this object may be properly regarded as a duty to the State.
The remedies for the evil may be briefly suggested.
Sanitation.—In the first place, whilst it is our duty to do whatever may be practicable to
ensure healthy homes for the poor, by the exercise of the powers of the Sanitary Authority: it
must be admitted that the effective discharge of the duty, involves many and great difficulties, such
as can never be surmounted without external assistance and the help of the people themselves. To
a not inconsiderable extent the discomfort, untidiness, and unhealthiness of the home is the result
of sheer ignorance on the part of the parents, who are but children of a larger growth, and the
first thing to be done is to inculcate habits of cleanliness in the plastic days of youth and school
attendance.
Instruction in the Laws of Health.—We have begun in elementary schools to teach the girls
cookery, a knowledge of which will tend to the welfare of the future family. So far, so good : but
I would ask, as I did in the annual report for 1871, " When will instruction in the principles of
sanitary law and hygiene form a part of the system of State education ? " When that shall have
been brought about 1 predict that there will be a diminution in infantile mortality.
Creches.—I hope to see the day when, bv a combined effort on the part of the Sanitary
Authority and philanthropic agencies, means will be extensively adopted for the care, during workhours,
of the infants of poor women who are compelled to earn their living by labour away from
home. What is primarily needed is Municipal Creches, in the management of which leisured
ladies might find an admirable scope for benevolent work. It was a part of the inquiry to find out
to what extent this want had been supplied by philanthropic effort.
On this point the Inspectors reported as follows :—
" At the Medical Mission, corner of Adair Road and Appleford Road, a creche is provided
under the care of Miss T., a certificated nurse and midwife, with one assistant. Dr. W.
attends twice weekly. About 80 children are taken in daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tne mothers
pay 4d. a day, which includes the food. Children are received up to 4 years of age. The
rooms were clean and well ventilated."
" In connection with the Latimer Road Mission, Blechynden Street, is an ' Infant Day
Nursery,' where about a dozen children are received daily (accommodation for 80) under the
care of an experienced woman, who has been there 22 years—with one or two assistants,
according to the number of children. The nursery is under the superintendence of Miss. G.
There are two rooms, one containing a dozeu cots for the children's mid-day sleep, the other a
play room, with low benches about 6 inches from the floor ; largo and sunny rooms. Children
are received up to 5 years of age. A charge of 6d. a day (which includes food) is made for one
child, ninepence for two children, and one shilling for three from the same family. The place
is open from 7.80 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday till Friday, and 7.80 to 1 on Saturdays."
This work is deserving of praise, but to make an impression on infantile mortality it needs
to be greatly extended; moreover, few very young children were found at the creches. A larger
number of infants were found to be left with other women, who generally received ninepence a day
for each, the mother finding the food. A considerable number of infants are left in the charge of
relatives, or committed to the care of elder children; but the total provision, as far as could be
judged from so limited an enquiry, was small, and not very satisfactory.
It will be remembered that a part of the scheme for the commemoration of the late Queen's
Diamond Jubilee was the provision of a creche. Unfortunately that part of the scheme has been
abandoned. But a Nurse's Home has been established at Kenley-street, where at least two nurses
will be resident and available for work in the neighbourhood, which is a very poor one. I should
be glad if the services of these nurses could be especially employed in helping poor women with
their babies, and in supervising work at creches. I am persuaded that many leisured women would
be found willing workers in such a cause. No better locality, perhaps, than Kenley-street could
have been suggested for such an establishment. The road is wide, the opposite houses low, and at
the rear is that beautiful open space, Avondale Park.