HL Deb 13 July 1869 vol 197 cc1739-40

Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.

THE MARQUESS TOWNSHEND

explained that the Bill was directed against "baby farming." It was notorious that in many cases infants were intrusted to persons whose wish was that the children's lives might come to a speedy end, and whose character was such that, but for the lowness of their terms, they would not be vested with so important a trust. Instances were but too common in which infants thus perished from neglect or ill-treatment, and his proposal, therefore, was that every person taking charge of them should be licensed by a magistrate, and should be required to give security for the proper discharge of her duties.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

said, he regarded the Bill as a most extraordinary one, since it would make it unlawful for any person, including, therefore, the mother, to take charge of any child under five years of age for the purpose of nursing without having previously obtained the authorization of a justice of the peace. He would advise the noble Marquess to subject these very numerous Bills to some more careful scrutiny before he submitted them to the consideration of the House.

THE EARL OF MORLEY

said, that the Bill was calculated to defeat the object of the noble Marquess, for, if carried into effect, there would soon, probably, be no infant life to preserve. It would moreover, require all nurses in hospitals and workhouses to be licensed. He hoped the noble Marquess would remodel the Bill before he again brought it forward.

EARL STANHOPE

Perhaps the noble Marquess would not object to this Amendment of his Bill—"That no woman shall nurse a child without the authority of her husband or the license of a magistrate." That would simplify matters very much; the husband's authority could be obtained without trouble.

THE MARQUESS TOWNSHEND

said, that the Bill would only apply to children placed out to nurse. After the way in which the Bill had been received it would be useless for him to press it.

Order for Second Reading discharged; and Bill (by leave of the House) withdrawn.