Appendix

It is of considerable interest, and may be in some cases of practical value to those interested in the well-being of children to notice in order some of the principal Acts of Parliament which have been passed during the last twenty-five years on behalf of children:—

1883. 46 & 47 Vic., c. 53. Employment of Children in Factories and Workshops.

1885. 48 & 49 Vic., c. 69. Criminal Law Amendment Act, relating to criminal assaults on children and to the finding of children in disorderly houses.

1887. 50 & 51 Vic., c. 58. Employment in Coal Mines.

1889. 52 & 53 Vic., c. 44. The Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act. This was the first of the three Acts, the others being passed in 1894 and 1904 respectively. Sometimes called “The Children’s Charter.” It is very wide in application, making it an offence to assault, illtreat, neglect, abandon, or expose a child under sixteen years of age in a manner likely to cause such child unnecessary suffering or injury to its health.

1891. 54 & 55 Vic., c. 3. The Custody of Children Act, dealing with the power of the Court to decline to issue a writ for the production of a child to an unfit parent, and with the power of the Court to order repayment of costs of bringing up a child.

1891. 54 & 55 Vic., c. 75 & 76. Further enactments concerning employment in Factories and Workshops.

1892. 55 & 56 Vic., c. 4. Betting Act, whereby it became a misdemeanour for anyone for the purpose of earning commission to send circulars, etc., to invite an infant to make any bet or wager.

1893. 56 & 57 Vic., c. 48. Reformatory Schools Act, giving power to a Court to remand a youthful offender to a prison or to any other place, which has in practice always been assumed to be a workhouse.

1894. 57 & 58 Vic., c. 33. Industrial Schools Act. Education.

1897. 60 & 61 Vic., c. 57. Infant Life Protection Act, concerning persons receiving infants for hire for the purpose of maintenance. An Act for the abolition of illicit baby-farming.

1899. 62 & 63 Vic., c. 37. Poor Law Act, concerning the control of guardians over orphans and children of persons unfit to have control of them.

1901. 1 Ed. VII, c. 20. Youthful Offenders Act, providing for (1) the removal of disqualifications attaching to felony, (2) the liability of parent or guardian in the case of youthful offenders, (3) the remand of youthful offenders to other places than prisons, (4) the recovery of expenses of maintenance from parent or person legally liable, etc., etc.

1901. 1 Ed. VII, c. 27. Intoxicating Liquors (Sale to Children) Act, forbidding the sale or delivery save at the residence or working place of the purchaser of any description of intoxicating liquor to any person under the age of fourteen years, except in corked and sealed vessels, in quantities not less than one reputed pint. It should be noticed that the Licensing Act of 1872 prohibited the sale of any description of spirits to any person apparently under the age of sixteen years.

1903. 3 Ed. VII, c. 45. The Employment of Children Act, containing restrictions on the hours of employment, age of employees, nature of employment, etc., etc.

There have also been several Education Acts either passed or proposed, but it is doubtful whether these have not usually had their origin in the exigencies of party politics rather than in a bonâ fide desire for the welfare of children. An honourable exception is the Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Act of 1899.

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