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and only a very limited number are used for confinement cases ; the remainder of the homes are devoted
almost exclusively to maternity work, and are capable of accommodating about 10,000 cases annually.
During the year the registration of one lying-in home was, as already stated, cancelled on account
of the owner's bad character, and the unfitness of the premises and equipment for the purpose to which
they were put, An appeal was made by the owner against this decision, but, after the hearing of the case,
which lasted several days, the magistrate dismissed the appeal, with costs, against the appellant, and
the order of the Council was confirmed on both the above grounds. This is the first occasion on which
an appeal of this description has been heard in Court since the Act came into force in 1916.
It may be mentioned that the Council has applied to Parliament for additional powers (including
the making of by-laws) for the regulation of lying-in homes.
Children Act, 1908.—Part I.
The work imposed upon the Council by this part of the Act relates to the supervision of infants
under the age of seven years, the nursing and maintenance of whom, apart from their parents, have
been undertaken for reward. The Act requires that any person undertaking the charge of such infants
shall give notice of their reception to the local authority (in London, the Council) within 48 hours of the
said reception. A similar requirement is imposed upon the foster-mother in the case of her change of
address, or the removal of an infant from her care. The death of any such infant must also be notified
to the coroner of the district within 24 hours, and to the local authority (the Council) within 48 hours.

An examination of this table will indicate that since 1916 the number of nurse infants and fostermothers
has notably decreased, this probably being due to economic conditions. On the other hand
the cost of the keep of such infants has risen owing to the extra cost of living ; and the average weekly
charge now made is from 12s. 6d. upwards, as compared with 5s. prior to the war. It may be noted,
however, that in special circumstances, lower charges than those above mentioned have been accepted,
but this is generally due to friendship between the parties concerned.
The difficulty of finding suitable foster-mothers for young infants still continues. Numerous
applications are received, but unfortunately it is impossible to suit them all. The same difficulty occurs
with institutions established for the care and maintenance of infants. Two societies whose work is
entirely confined to bringing about the adoption of infants are now in full activity, and they have dealt
with a large number of such cases.
Fourteen female visitors and two male inspectors carry out the executive work under this part
of the Act. The visitors call upon foster-mothers periodically and see that proper care and attention
are bestowed upon the infants, and they also advise foster-mothers as to methods of feeding, etc., the
infants in their care. With regard to the two male inspectors, their work differs materially from that of
the visitors, and may be classed as more or less of a detective nature. Advertisements appearing in
the press are carefully watched by them and followed up, with a view to tracing unregistered fostermothers.
The inspectors also verify the removal of infants from foster-mothers outside the county to
parents or other relatives within the county ; and follow up cases where notice of removal of the fostermother
has not been given, with a view to tracing such foster-mothers, and they also help the visitors
in difficult cases.
It must be borne in mind that some foster-mothers may be, or may become, unfit to have the care
of nurse infants entrusted to them, and the Act accordingly gives power to the Council to remove to a
place of safety—that is, a workhouse—any infant in charge of a foster-mother who is unfit by negligence
ignorance, inebriety, immorality, criminal conduct, or other similar cause, to have charge of an infant.
Where the premises are overcrowded, dangerous, or insanitary, or the infant is kept by a person or in
any premises in contravention of the Act, similar action may be taken. During the year 14 infants
were removed under this section as compared with 33 in the previous year. The Council, as the local
authority under the Act, is also empowered to exempt, either partially or wholly, any premises which,
in the opinion of the Council, are so conducted as to render ordinary inspections unnecessary. No total
exemptions were granted, but partial exemptions limited to one or two visits a year were allowed in 7
cases, as compared with 11 in the previous year.
The sanitary condition of the homes is made the subject of particular attention. All new fostermothers'
premises, or premises to which any foster-mother may remove after registration, are inspected
by the sanitary staff, and similar steps are taken if doubt arises in the mind of the visitors as to the
suitability of the premises, or if a complaint is made by the foster-mother as to any serious defect or
nuisance. The number of such reports made during the last year was 966 as compared with 1,124
during the previous year. The premises were reported to be satisfactory in 573 cases, as compared with
592 in the previous year. Sanitary defects were discovered in 186 cases, as compared with 278 in the
previous year. Overcrowding was reported in 138 cases as compared with 134 cases in the previous
year ; while both overcrowding and sanitary defects were discovered in 22 cases, as compared with 34
cases in the previous year. In 47 cases an inspection could not be made owing to the removal of the
infant before the visit of the inspector. In each case in which a serious sanitary defect was discovered,