1> ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION 



Licensed and Unlicensed. 



In 1910 there were 477 women, 527 infants, of whom 14 died, 2'6 % 



1911 690 ,, 1,018 ,, 13 L. and 



5Ul. = i8 1-7,, 



1912 720 1,370 22 L. and 



22 Ul. = 44 3-2 



It will be seen that although there is an average 

 of more than one in a family that the numbers in one 

 home are small, and usually only one child in one 

 home. Some of those nursing the children are 

 single women of unblemished reputation, and some 

 are widows, but many are married women with 

 families of their own, whose hearts are large enough 

 to admit the stranger's child and to let it share in 

 the love of the home ; such women are the most 

 successful nurses. 



The great increase in numbers in 1910-11-12 

 was caused by the Legislature of South Australia 

 laying upon this Department in 1910, the duty ot 

 supervising all illegitimate children under 7 years, 

 no matter with whom they might be living, and any 

 children illegitimate or legitimate who might be in 

 the' care of persons not their parents whether for 

 gain or reward or not. It will be seen that the 

 death-rate is still low, and when it is remembered 

 that before this action was taken it was shown that 

 the death-rate of unsupervised illegitimate children 

 was 45 per cent., as against from 4 per cent, to 5 per 

 cent, of those supervised, the lowness of the present 

 rate is marked, and has been secured by increased 

 inspection and care. 



It is further to be borne in mind that as yet the 

 system is scarcely fairly at work ; the time of the 

 officers has been much occupied hitherto in finding- 

 children who were neglected, and in endeavouring 

 to improve the homes in which they were found. So 

 far no prosecutions for disregard of instructions have 

 become necessary, but it is to be feared that as parents 

 become accustomed to the system, the first shock 



