XN000022-1981-12-29 — Page 12

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1981

REMEMBER TO REGISTER BIRTHS ON TIME, PUBLIC ARE ADVISED

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ABOUT 12 OUT OF EVERY HUNDRED BIRTHS ARE NOT REGISTERED WITHIN THE STATUTORY 42 DAYS, ACCORDING TO FIGURES OBTAINED FROM THE REGISTRAR OF BIRTHS.

LAST YEAR, OF THE 85 406 REGISTERED BIRTHS, ONLY 88 PER CENT WERE REGISTERED WITHIN 42 DAYS.

PEOPLE WHO DO NOT REGISTER WITHIN THE 42 DAYS, BUT DO SO WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE CHILD'S BIRTH, HAVE TO PAY A FEE OF $5.

THIS FEE IS RAISED TO $30 AFTER ONE YEAR. BUT BY THEN A BIRTH CAN BE REGISTERED ONLY WITH THE CONSENT OF THE REGISTRAR OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE SAID.

PARENTS ARE THEREFORE ADVISED THAT THEY WILL SAVE A GREAT DEAL OF TROUBLE AND EXPENSE FOR THEMSELVES LATER IF THEY ADHERE AS CLOSELY TO THE LAW AS POSSIBLE.

+THIS IS PARTICULARLY SO WHEN A CHILD COMES OF SCHOOL AGE, MUST OBTAIN AN IDENTITY CARD, OR REQUIRES A TRAVEL DOCUMENT,+ À SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.

THE PROCESS OF REGISTRATION IS QUITE SIMPLE. PARENTS SHOULD BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS, AND IF AVAILABLE, THEIR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES AS WELL.

HOWEVER, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE CAUTIONED ABOUT THE NEED FOR CORRECT INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED DURING THE APPLICATION, FOR IT IS AN OFFENCE TO GIVE FALSE INFORMATION AND THE PENALTY CAN AMOUNT TO A FINE OF $250 ON SUMMARY CONVICTION AND UP TO SEVEN YEARS' IMPRISONMENT IF A CASE IS HEARD IN A HIGHER COURT.

PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT FURNISHING INFORMATION IN THE APPLICATION OF BIRTH REGISTRATION SHOULD APPROACH THE ENQUIRIES SECTION OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR ADVICE.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT OFFSPRING OF UNMARRIED COUPLES COULD ALSO BE REGISTERED FOR BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

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AND THE PROCEDURE FOR SUCH CASES IS QUITE SIMPLE THE PARENTS NEED ONLY GO TO THE REGISTRATION OFFICE AND SIGN THE DOCUMENTS TOGETHER.

IN CASES OF UNKNOWN PARENTAGE, SUCH AS WHEN INFANTS OR CHILDREN ARE FOUND ABANDONED IN THE STREETS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, SUCH CHILDREN ARE GIVEN BIRTH CERTIFICATES ON DETERMINATION BY A DOCTOR THAT THEY ARE UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE.

THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN WILL BE GIVEN BY THE INSTITUTION WHICH LOOKS AFTER THEM OR ADOPTS THEM, AND FOR REGISTRATION IN SUCH CASES. NO NAMES ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE 'PARENTS' COLUMN.

/DISCUSSING ANOTHER