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1934] 22
technically " fostcr-i hilrlren,'' such as Residential Schools taking children under
nine years of aye, and institutions such as Children's Homes, " Guest Houses,"
ctc.
Number of foster-mothers on the Register who were receiving-
children on the 1st January, 1934 162
Do. do. on the 31st December, 1934 168
Number of foster-mothers added to the Register during the year 49
Number of foster-mothers removed from the Register during the
year 43
Number of foster-children on the Register at 31st December, 1934 224*
Number of foster-children attending Child Welfare Clinics 86
Visits paid to homes 1,802
Children removed compulsorily 8
Children removed to hospital 11
Deaths reported (Inquests—Nil) 2
Cases recommended for prosecution 8
Other cases of serious complain 2
*Includes those in institutions, etc.
The following cases in which action was taken, either by prosecution or otherwise,
and where warnings were unheeded, are of interest :—A foster-mother was
summonsed for undertaking the nursing and maintenance of an infant for reward
without first giving notice to the Local Authority. In this case we received a
message from an Inspector of the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to
Children that he had discovered in a house in the district a woman fostering an
illegitimate child, age 4i years, and requested that an officer from my Department
should visit and see the unsatisfactory manner in which the child was being
fostered, with the result that this officer immediately advised that the child be taken
to hospital for treatment. Further enquiries by the Infant Protection Visitor disclosed
that the woman was not a registered foster-mother and was in the habit of
receiving regularly 6/- a week payment from the mother for the child's care and
maintenance. Upon the reports on the case being submitted to the appropriate
Committee, proceedings were authorised by them, and the case duly came before
the Court. The woman pleaded " Guilty," and was fined £2 2s. and £2 2s.
costs. The Magistrate in delivering judgment expressed a very strong view, and
stated that if similar cases came before them the Court would seriously have to
consider sending the delinquent to prison.
It is a common defence where cases are taken for failing to give notice for the
foster-mother to allege that the notice was sent. Two cases were considered
sufficiently serious for us to initiate proceedings. In one case the Court did not
accept the foster-mother's statement, and she was ordered to pay a fine of 5/-; in
the other case the Magistrate gave the foster-mother the " benefit of the doubt."
Other action taken; in one case where there was failure to notify reception of
a nurse-child, the foster-mother was warned and she again failed to notify the
removal of the same child. This foster-mother was removed from the Register.
In another case, where there was obstruction to the Council's officer, no fireguard
provision, and indifferent methods of feeding, the case was brought before
the Council's solicitor, but, as there was considerable improvement subsequently,
legal action was not taken.