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57
LEGISLATION IN 1908 AFFECTING EDMONTON.
Of the 73 Acts placed in the Statute Book, I only write here of those
whose results are expected to benefit the Public Health. All social reforms
have some relation to my special subject.
1. OLD AGE PENSIONS ACT.
If the old adage, " Annuitants live long," is true, one effect of this
Act will be to prolong the span of old life in proportion to the comfort
provided by the pension. This Act is a recognition by the State of services
rendered by the veterans of industry, male and female, and is in no sense a
form of charitable relief.
2. THE CHILDREN ACT.
This does not come into force until 1st April, 1909. It makes
important provisions for the protection of children and infants, and makes
more stringent regulations for the management of homes where infants and
young children are boarded. It remedies one great defect in the Infant Life
Protection Act (1897), as it now applies to people "farming" one child, and
notice must be given the Local Authority within 48 hours of the reception of
the infant. Notice of the infant's death must be also given within 48 hoursof
its death, both to the Local Authority and the Coroner. Section 10 defines
the Guardians as the " Local Authority." I consider that the better one is
the Local Sanitary Authority, who, I believe, could have administered the
Vaccination Act and the Infant Life Protection Act (1897) much better than
any other body. This latter Act, and many others concerning reformatories
and industrial schools, are hereby repealed. The Prevention of Cruelty to
Children Act, 1904, is also much altered.
The foster parents are not allowed to insure the life of the child. I
am glad to read that imprisonment can be inflicted, as well as fines, on offenders.
Overlaying of children under 3 years of age will not be so common now
it is a punishable offence; no less than 7 children met their death in this
way in Edmonton during 1908.
Section 122 gives the Local Educational Authority and their School
Medical Officer power to examine verminous children in public elementary
schools; to cleanse the children themselves, if the parents will not within 24
hours; the use of premises and appliances of the Sanitary Authority for
cleansing verminous persons and their clothing, if such premises and appliances
exist, can be obtained by the Educational Authority on request, for