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48
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACT, 1907.
In reference to the enforcement of the provisions
for the early notification of births, the following letter
was addressed to the Council:—
"Local Government Board,
"Whitehall, S.W.,
"19th September, 1909.
"Sir,—
"I am directed by the Local Government Board to
advert to their letters to the Borough Council of 23rd June,
1908, and 10th May last, in which they expressed the view
that it is desirable that the Notification of Births Act, 1907,
should be in operation throughout the Metropolis, and to
state that they have now issued an Order declaring that from
and after the 30th November the Act shall be in force in
the Metropolitan Boroughs in which it has not been adopted.
Amongst these is the Borough of Hammersmith.
"Copies of the Order are enclosed.
"By the terms of Section 2 (3) of the Act it will be
the duty of the Borough Council forthwith to bring the
provisions of the Act to the attention of all medical practitioners
and midwives practising in their area, and the
Board think it desirable that prior to the 30th November
the Council should give public notice by advertisement in
one or more newspapers circulating in their area of the fact
that the Act will be in force in the Borough on and after
that date.
"I am further directed to call attention to the provisions
of Section 1 of the Act, by which it will be the duty
of the Borough Council to supply, without charge, stamped
and addressed postcards containing the form of notice of
the birth of a child to any medical practitioner or midwife
residing or practising in their area who applies for the same.
"The ultimate object of the Act is to reduce infant
mortality, and with this view it is important that arrangements
should be made by the Borough Council under which
advice and instruction will be given in suitable cases to
mothers and those who have the charge of infants. In
this connection the Board may remind the Borough Council
of the power to appoint one or more Health Visitors conferred
on them by Section 6 of the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1908, subject to the provisions
contained in the Health Visitors (London) Order, 1909, copies
of which, with an accompanying circular, were sent to the
Borough Council on the 5th September last.
"I am, Sir,
"Your obedient servant,
"(Sd.) H. C. NORRIS,
"The Town Clerk, "Assistant Secretary.
"Hammersmith."