§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the recent Judgment of Mr. Justice Day, in a case of baby farming, at the Wilts Assizes, in the course of which the learned Judge is reported to have said that—
The prisoners received moneys in gross sums and then devoted themselves not to taking care of the children, but to getting rid of them. Through the instrumentality of those deadly Societies which insured children, the prisoners had put themselves in a position to make a profit by the death of these children. That was the effect of these Societies wherever they existed, and such Societies should have been stamped out by the Legislature long ago;and, whether he will consider the possibility of introducing legislation at an early date to prevent such inducements to crime?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)This is an important subject, which has been frequently considered by the Home Office; but it is attended by many difficulties, and I cannot at present make any promise on the subject.