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"of children were seriously handicapped by the lack of infor"mation
as to births.
"The existing law requires the registration of births
"within 42 days, and arrangements were made after considerable
"trouble to obtain from local Registrars a list of the births so
"registered.
"Owing to the long period in which births might be
"registered, it was found, on visiting the homes of the poor
"with the view of instructing the parents in simple rules of
"nursing, that irremedial damage had already been done,
"through ignorance, the infants having reached the age of six
"or seven weeks before the local authority knew of their
"existence.
"This Council, in 1906, made a representation to the
"Local Government Board of the desirability of the period of
"registration being considerably reduced.
"In June, 1906, a Conference on Infant Mortality was
"held in London. Representatives from all parts of the
"country were present, and an opening address was given by
"the Right Hon. John Burns, President of the Local Govern"ment
Board.
"Statistics show that Infant Mortality rates have
"declined very considerably within the last 30 years, between
"the ages of three and twelve months, but in the mortality of
"infants between birth and the age of three months there has
"been no diminution.
"It is obvious, therefore, that if any attempt is to be
"made to reduce infant mortality, to be successful we must
"direct our attention to the very youngest babies, directing a
"proper course of feeding as soon after birth as possible.
"The information necessary for any such step can only
"be obtained by the prompt and early notification of births as
"provided by the Act under consideration. There is little
"doubt that the Act will be generally adopted, and in places
"where it is not adopted the Local Government Board have
"the power to declare it in force.
"In addition to ordinary births, the Act also provides
"for the notification of stillborn and prematurely-born infants.
"The notification will in no way interfere with the
"registration with the local Registrars, which will still remain
"in force.