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45
All foster mothers on the transferred register who were
known to have children in their care were informed by circular
letter of the change of authority, and public notice of the alteration
was also given by posters distributed throughout the Borough, and
by advertisement in the local press.
On the 1st April there were 52 Battersea foster mothers on the
London County Council register transferred to the Borough Council,
having in their care 74 nurse children. At the end of the year there
were 64 foster mothers with 89 nurse children, an increase of 12
foster mothers during the year. In addition there were on the
register 27 foster mothers who had no children in their charge.

The whole number of nurse children who were under observation
during the period 1st April to 31st December, 1933, was 169.
The children were on the whole found to be well, though inclined
to be sub-normal. One child was blind, one tuberculous, and one
mentally defective. Eleven cases of infectious or contagious disease
occurred among nurse children during the period, including four
cases of scarlet fever.
It is found that the charge of the foster mothers varied between
2s. 6d. to 25s. per week, and at the end of the year was usually
between 10s. and 12s. 6d. per week.
Of the children under 5 years of age, 15 were, at the date of
transfer of powers, attending the Infant Welfare Centres, as compared
with 32 at the end of the year.
It was not found necessary to take legal proceedings during
the period under report in respect of offences against the Children
Acts, but in 28 cases foster mothers were cautioned for the undermentioned
offences:—

The Council, on the suggestion of the Metropolitan Boroughs
Standing Joint Committee, addressed a communication to the local
Court pointing out that the Council, as the Maternity and Child
Welfare Authority, is qualified to act as guardian ad litem under
the Adoption of Children Act, 1926.