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80
Removed to hospital 6
Of this number one died.
Foster parent left the district taking the
child with her 4
Child attained the age of nine years 7
Number of children on the register at the end of the year 155
Most of the foster-mothers in this district are registered for the
care of one child only though some have up to four, and there are
two children's homes suitably staffed which are registered for the
reception of 22 and 20 children. Monthly visits are made by the
health visitors to all homes.
Most foster-mothers await permission before receiving children,
those who do not do so being mostly persons who move into the
district with foster-children in their possession. It is unfortunate
that advantage was not taken of the changes in recent legislation
dealing with the care of foster-children to give added powers to
the local authority, more particularly on the lines of licensing or
registering of foster-parents and premises. Provision is made for
the removal of foster-children kept in unsuitable premises or by
unsuitable persons under Section 212 of the Public Health Act, 1936:
" if a foster-child is about to be received or is being kept in any
premises which are over-crowded, insanitary or dangerous or by any
person who, by reason of old-age, infirmity, ill-health, ignorance,
negligence, inebriety, immorality or criminal conduct or for any
other reason is unfit to have care of the child, or in any premises
or by any person in contravention of any of the provisions of this
part of the Act, or in an environment which is detrimental to the
child, a Court of Summary Jurisdiction may, on the application of
the welfare authority, make an Order for the removal of the child
to a place of safety"—a cumbersome procedure which could have
been avoided by granting to local authorities the power of registration.
It would have been preferable too if the onus of proof that
a child in the care of those not its parents was not a foster-child
lay on those having custody of the child. At the present the onus
of proof that the child is being nursed or maintained "for reward"
rests on the local authority. By collaboration between the interested
parties the obtaining of proof can be rendered very difficult.