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99
Such a building might be used for a threefold purpose—
1. A day-time creche for children whose mothers, married
or single, were out at work daily, returning home at night.
2. A boarding-house, or a home, for the children of
unmarried mothers whose work precluded them from bringing
up their own babies, e.g., those engaged at work at places
where they were required to " sleep in."
3. Accommodation for unmarried mothers and their babies
in instances when the mothers did not desire to be separated
from their babies. Such mothers could make themselves useful
in helping generally in the work of the establishment, feeding
and washing, etc., of other babies, and opportunity could be
found for teaching them useful work for their own support
when they found themselves once more out in the world on
their own sole resources.
The fact that there occur in Hackney some 164 illegitimate
births to mothers who reside in Hackney in a year is an indication
of the desirability of taking action in the interests of both mothers
and infants.
An empty house was recommended as suitable for this purpose
in the Upper Clapton Road, containing 15 rooms, rent £90 per
annum. This was inspected by two members of the Committee
and myself, but before any definite steps were taken it was sold
privately by the owner. Up to the present no other suitable place
in the borough has been found.
GRANTS TO FOSTER-MOTHERS.
During the year, upon the instructions of the Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee, I reported to them on this question, as
follows :—
" In very many instances there is no doubt that great, and
not seldom undeserved, hardship falls upon unmarried mothers who
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