RELATING TO Decrease of Baby Farming.—The following figures supplied by the British National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, show how far less prevalent baby farming is becoming than formerly. In 1918, the society dealt with 29 cases of baby farming, involving 48 children. In 1927 the figures were nine and 13 respectively, with an average of 13 cases and 28 children for a period of ten years.
In Australia all the states have passed legislation with the ob ject of supervising and ameliorating the conditions of infant life. The Government departments control the boarding out to suit able persons of the wards of the state. In South Australia there is a State Children's Council, which, under the State Children Act of 1895, has large powers with respect to the oversight of infants under two years boarded out by their mother. "Foster mothers," as the women who take in infants as boarders are called, must be licensed, while the number of children authorized to be kept by the foster-mother is fixed by licence; every licensed foster-mother must keep a register containing the name, age and place of birth of every child received by her, the names, addresses and description of the parents or of any person other than the parents from or to whom the child was received or delivered over, the date of receipt or delivery over, particulars of any accident to or illness of the child, and the name of the medical practitioner (if any) by whom attended. In New South Wales the Child Wel fare Act, 1923, covers the conditions under which children are boarded out. In Victoria the Infant Life Protection Act, provides for similar conditions. Provision is also made for the medical care of boarded-out children and it is the duty of the medical officer so appointed to attend these children, when re quired, at the expense of the State.
In New Zealand the "Children's Protection Act, 189o," the "Adoption of Children Act, 1895," and the "Infant Life Protection Act, 1907" were consolidated and incorporated in the "Infants' Act, 1908." The "Child Welfare Act, 19 2 5," has also helped to give the matter an appropriate and efficient status, more especially by providing for child welfare officers, whose duty it is to assist and guide unmarried mothers, either by placing the child in a suitable foster home or by advising the mother about affiliation proceedings, or helping her to find employment. (J. HA.)