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"The National Children Adoption Association provided
two people in my district—working class parents of
the very best type—with a child about 4½ years of age.
The first time I saw this child when she reached school age,
I pointed out that the child was, in my opinion, one that
would have to be certified as mentally defective. I put
this point up to the Society, and had an interview with their
legal Adviser. They not unnaturally raised every possible
obstacle to the rescinding of the agreement. I put it to
them that they did not perform their part of the contract,
in that in the words of the Food and Drugs Act they had
not supplied these parents with goods of the nature and
substance demanded. The parents had come to them
anxious to adopt a normal child, and although the physical
history appeared all right, I gather that no attempt was
made—or ever is made—to assess the mental capabilities of
the children that are handed over. The position now is
extraordinarily painful. These parents, who have looked
after the child in an excellent manner, were not unnaturally
greatly distressed, when it was my unfortunate duty last
week to certify the child under the Education Acts as feeble
minded. It does seem too great a burden to put on adopting
parents. I admit the difficulties of cancelling the contract.
I admit the difficulties to the child who may be taken
from what is an excellent home, back either to an unsuitable
one or even to the care of the Guardians, but I do feel very
strongly that there should be some amending clause in the
Act, amending it in such a way that if the child is subsequently
found on examination to be certifiable as feeble
minded, that the contract should be terminated, if the
adopting parents so desire. That would leave it open in
the case where the child has been taken very young, and
the adopting parents may have become so attached as to
be prepared to make the sacrifice of looking after such a
case, but I think they should be in a position to cancel the
contract on the grounds that the child supplied to them
was not such as it was deemed to be when the contract was
signed.
" These parents, who as I have said, are of the very
best type, who would make, and are anxious to make a good
home for a normal child, are not unnaturally distressed at
the possibility of being permanently responsible for a child
who will probably be a drag on them for the rest of their
days, and a disappointment in that she will not be one on
whom they can lavish the enormous fund of affection which
would be there for a normal child."