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101
cleanliness and appearance of babies, and conditions as to
health. Those only who proved satisfactory in all respects
under the Health Visitor's investigations should be registered
by this Committee, and those only should be recognised as
worthy of receiving official aid.
"Such a register having been formed, mothers should be
encouraged to send their babies to the registered foster-mothers
rather than to others not on the register ; and by judicious
aid it might be ordained that charges at the recognised homes
should be not more for mothers but, if possible, less than
charges at those not on the register. This would encourage
mothers to use the good homes in preference, and might result
eventually in starving out the others.
" 2. Creches to receive, during working hours, the babies of
unmarried mothers while at work, and also to receive, as
boarders, children of unmarried mothers, who, on account of
the nature of their work, e.g., domestic service, etc., are compelled
to board out their children. These creches should be
under the complete control of this Committee, with a Matronin-Charge,
or a foster-mother, as a servant of the Committee,
appointed by and removable by the Committee. There should
be several such institutions suitably placed so as to be accessible
for all parts of the Borough.
" 3. A number of day creches in well-chosen spots throughout
the borough for day workers, and a sufficiently large central
establishment for children whose mothers desired to board
them out. These should be completely under the Committee's
control, and the people serving in them should be appointed,
and subject to removal, by the Committee. This last scheme,
is the one which I, personally, should prefer. If so desired the
central establishment might be used also as a day nursery,