View report page

13
Notification of Bikths Act, 1907.
An Act to provide for the early Notification of Births became law on
the 28th August, 1907.
The Public Health and Housing Committee were of opinion it is
desirable that the Notification of Births Act should be adopted by the
Council, and recommended—
"That the Council at its meeting on the 31st October, 1907, do
consider and determine the following recommendations, viz.:—
'That the Notification of Births Act, 1907, be and it is
hereby adopted by the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of
Poplar, to come into operation within the said Borough at such
time as may be fixed by the Local Government Board.'
'That public notice be given by advertisement of the
adoption of the Act by the Council, and all necessary steps taken
to bring the provisions of the Act to the attention of all medical
practitioners and midwives practising in the Borough.' "
The Council adopted the Act on the 31st October, 1907.*
Notices of births will be received at the Public Health Offices within
48 hours after the birth, instead of some weeks after, so that the hints
regarding the management and feeding, etc., of infants, will be in the
hands of the parents without unnecessary delay.
The father, if actually resident at the time and place of birth, and any
person in attendance (including the medical practitioner or midwife) upon
the mother at the time of or within six hours after the birth shall give
notice within thirty-six hours after the birth, in the manner and form prescribed
by the Act, to the Medical Officer of Health, and the local
authority shall supply, without charge, addressed and stamped postcards
containing the form of notice. A person shall not be liable to a penalty
for not giving notice if he had reason to believe notice had been duly given
by some other person.
The Registrars of births and deaths shall have access to notices of
births received by the Medical Officer of Health, or to any book in which
these notices may be recorded.
*The Local Government Board confirmed the adoption of the Act and appointed
the 9th March, 1908, as the date on the which it should come into operation.
C